Wednesday, September 25, 2013
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I remember when our local pizza joint got new owners. We were living on the East Coast then and the new owners really turned that place into something pretty impressive. It was a fairly large restaurant. And their menu had more than just pizza on it, although pizza was fine with me.
Suddenly they had good service. It was run very well. It seemed like the owner was always there no matter what time day or night we ate there. He was hands on. So it surprised me one Sunday when I walked in there after church to have dinner with my family. It was 45 minutes after opening and most of the lights were still out! There were no customers and there were just three employees sitting at the counter.
A waitress came up to us and said, "Oh, sorry. Only pizza today and we didn't make it yet." I said, "You just opened! What happened?" He said, "The boss decided not to come in today." It's Sunday! The boss decided not to come in on their maybe busiest day of the week? I said, "Hey, it's a good thing the boss isn't here." And he told the whole story in a few words. He said, "The boss is on vacation." Well, I can tell you this: the boss is definitely important. When the boss is not there, everything falls apart.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Boss Is the Glue."
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from Colossians 1:16-17. It stems from the feeling that there's something very important coming. Maybe there's a family situation, or maybe your job is suddenly out-of-control; a physical problem has suddenly shown up and darkened your life. Maybe there's a relationship that's suddenly not there to count on any more. And that part of your life looks like our local restaurant. It's chaotic, dysfunctional; something's suddenly not working like it was.
Verse 16 steps into that situation. "For in Him (that's Jesus Christ) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, (now listen to this) and in Him all things hold together."
When the boss is there, everything is fine. When the boss is there, things are together. You need the boss to step in when things are out-of-control and maybe they are in your life right now. He steps in and His presence restores order. He is the boss of the universe! So with Him in charge; with Him running things, you can handle the problem no matter how large it is. You can take on the challenge no matter how daunting it is. You can handle every earthly ruler there is.
Colossians 3:15 says what happens when you crown Christ as the Lord of this new chaotic corner of your life. It says, "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts." What happens when the boss, the Lord, steps in - peace.
See, it isn't what's going on around you; it's what's going on inside you. And as soon as things are together inside you, it's as if Christ is now in control of that part of your life. You are exercising, you are acknowledging His control. If things begin to fall apart, well sometimes you grab the situation. You've got to take charge again. You worry, you work, you plan, and you scheme. That doesn't solve anything. Maybe God brought us together today to remind you to stop and crown Jesus as Lord of that illness, that crisis, that relationship, that need.
Just tell Him, "Lord, anything goes." See, He knows the next step, He knows the results, and it is the One and it is Jesus who brings all things together. What did it say here, "In Him all things hold together." You give that out-of-control part of your life to the Master, and give Him total control.
In a business, in real life, the presence of the boss is always the glue.