First of All: Resisting Projecting on Others

For the last several weeks, we've been looking at what we embrace when Jesus is "first of all." This has included grace, wisdom, fidelity, and ultimately - Christ. When we're holding on to something, we also naturally resist things that will distract us. Yesterday, Brian looked at Colossians 1:24-29 as we focused on resisting projecting our expectations and opinions
onto others.

When we live life "in the flesh," it's common to take the principles and commands we learn and make them the standard we use to condemn others. But this isn't the way of Jesus, or what is demonstrated by Paul.

Rather than offer the Colossians a teaching and directly move into how THEY should apply it in their lives, Paul expresses how HE is embodying a life informed by Christ's lordship. Not as a boast or a brag, but with humility and recognition of himself as a servant. While Paul often uses himself as an example to imitate (1 Corinthians 4:16, 11:1), he doesn't use himself as the standard used to condemn others. The simple truth of how Christ has reconciled us back to God allows us to become deeply aware of the "planks" in our own eye before engaging in "speck" removal in another.