The Preeminence of Christ

The Son is preeminent.
The Son has spoken.

The delight of any normal son is to please his father. The delight of any normal father is to glorify his son. The Father and the Son were absolutely and perfectly normal in their relationship. The Son came to do, and delighted to do, the will of the Father. The Father highly exalted the Son, giving Him a name which is above every other name.

The testimony of today's lesson is that Jesus is the brightness of the Father's glory and "the express image of His person" (Hebrews 1:3). Looking in the book of Colossians, we learn that Jesus "is the image of the invisible God" (1:15), that "it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell" (1:19), and that "in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (2:9). The Father "raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named" (Ephesians 1:20,21).

Do you get it?! The Son is preeminent!

The Son has spoken. The first section gives that statement extra import. Since the Preeminent One has spoken, ought we not listen?

"Love your enemies" (Matthew 5:44). And if you aren't sure how to make this practical, finish reading the verse! I am sobered again with the realization that this is one of the things that makes me stand out from those reject the Son.

"They are no more twain, but one flesh" (Matthew 19:6). Don't let any man or woman attempt to separate them--not by civil law, not by ecclesiastical pronouncement; not emotionally, not physically; not in issues of loyalty, not in issues of provision. They are one till death decrees otherwise.

"He cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26,27,33). Words to grip the attention of all who would follow Him! Be it kin, skin, cross or cache, don't let it deprive you of discipleship!

"Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:20). Not in addition to treasures on earth, but instead of them. Why establish treasures where you won't spend eternity? Why build treasuries where corruption and thievery abound? Look for secure investments; look for long-term investments. Your heart will follow them!

"Blessed are the pure in heart" (Matthew 5:8). Only this way will you be able to make pure decisions in the issues of life. Only this way will you speak with purity, think with purity, and act with purity. Only this way you shall see God.

"Be ye also ready" (Matthew 24:44). That means all the time and any time, without taking risks and without tolerating exceptions. Otherwise some time you will take your last risk!

"Keep my commandments" (John 14:15). If you love Him, anyway.

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast . . . how shall we escape, if we neglect . . ." (Hebrews 2:1,2)?

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