Colossal Challenge Introduction: So what is this colossal challenge? Over the next weeks, we will be looking at the book of Colossians. Note: Colossae and the Colossus of Rhodes have nothing to do with each other. I am just making a play on words with an idiom we use in modern English: A Colossal Challenge. What I am wanting us to ponder over this next season, is what seems to be a colossal challenge to the Christian life. Do you feel at times that being a Christian is overwhelming? Do you ever think that what the Bible is teaching, or God is expecting of you is too much, or just impossible? Do you feel that sometimes you just don’t pray enough? Don’t read the Bible enough? Don’t go to church enough? Don’t give enough? Don’t do enough?
I want to de-mystify the Colossal Challenge and tell you the Good News of Jesus Christ is to let you know you don’t have to feel this way! The message of Jesus Christ is the Kingdom is at hand, within reach, available. This means that we can live in the Kingdom without trying so hard. I want you to come to the place where you don’t try so hard. Stated negatively, this is legalism (or in Jesus’ day, Pharasee-ism). The last thing we want or need to do is be bound by legalism. Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:18-30). Let’s learn together to give our burdens to Jesus, learn from Him, and find rest for our weary souls.