What Drives Your Life? Finding Purpose in Christ

What gets you up in the morning? What occupies your thoughts as you drift off to sleep? These questions point to something deeper than our daily routines—they reveal what truly drives our lives. In Colossians 2:1-15, the apostle Paul shares what drives him and challenges us to examine our own motivations.

Paul's Driving Purpose

Writing from prison to believers he had never met, Paul reveals his heart: “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ” (Colossians 2:2-3, NIV).

Paul's purpose statement contains three essential elements that should drive every believer's life.

Encouragement in the Body of Christ

Paul's first desire is that believers would be encouraged. In our daily conversations, we often engage in what could be called “mutual counseling sessions”—sharing reassurance and building each other up through routine stresses. This isn't just nice behavior; it's essential for spiritual health.

Mother Teresa once said, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” What a challenge for how we interact with our spouses, children, friends, and fellow believers. Like Barnabas, whose nickname meant “son of encouragement,” we're called to lift others up.

Unity Rooted in Love

The second driving force is unity in love. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35, NIV). This unity doesn't mean uniformity—we can disagree on various matters while maintaining our common commitment to Christ.

Think of an orchestra tuning their instruments. They don't tune to each other but to a common standard. Similarly, our unity comes from being “tuned” to Christ. As Thomas à Kempis wisely noted, “If Christ is among us, then it is necessary that at times we yield up our own opinion for the sake of peace.”

Reflecting Christ's Light

Paul's third motivation is helping believers understand their identity and power in Christ. Like a child using a broken mirror to reflect sunlight into dark places, we're called to reflect Christ's light into the darkness around us.

Jesus claimed to be the light of the world, but He also told His followers, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14, NIV). This calling extends to every area of life—work, family, community, and leisure.

Growing Together Like Redwoods

Paul uses powerful imagery to describe spiritual growth: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7, NIV).

Redwood trees can grow 300 feet tall despite having relatively shallow roots. Their secret? Their roots intertwine with other redwoods, providing mutual support and sharing resources. Trees closer to water sources share with those further away. This illustrates how the church should function—intertwined in Christ, supporting one another, and growing together.

What Does It Mean to Live "In Christ"?

Paul emphasizes that believers are “in Christ”—a phrase that appears throughout his letters. This isn't just about accepting Christ; it's about Christ bringing us into His presence and power.

Accepted by Grace Alone

Paul addresses the false teaching that believers needed something beyond Christ for salvation. He reminds them that they've been “circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands” (Colossians 2:11, NIV). Through baptism, they've been united with Christ's death and resurrection.

Our acceptance comes through Christ alone, not through any outward act or human effort.

Forgiveness Complete

“He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14, NIV).

When Jesus said “It is finished” on the cross, He used a perfect tense indicating completed action with ongoing effects. He paid for past, present, and future sins. Our guilt has been nailed to the cross and removed forever.

Victory Over Evil

“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15, NIV).

Christ turned the worst day in human history into the greatest reason for hope. He transformed apparent defeat into ultimate victory, overcoming evil and setting us free from Satan's tyranny.

Overflowing with Gratitude

When we truly grasp what Christ has done for us, the natural response is overwhelming gratitude. This isn't just a feeling but a way of life that witnesses to God's goodness.

Dr. Lewis Smedes, after surviving a serious health crisis, told his doctor, “It wasn't luck, it was my God who saved me.” He described being “overwhelmed with gratitude.” This should be our constant posture—amazed by God's mercy and marveling at His grace.

Life Application

This week, examine what truly drives your life. Are you motivated by encouragement, unity in love, and reflecting Christ's light? Consider these practical steps:

First, look for opportunities to encourage someone close to you—perhaps your spouse, children, or a friend who needs uplifting. Second, actively pursue unity in your relationships, especially within the church, remembering that our common commitment to Christ transcends our differences. Third, consciously reflect Christ's light in your workplace, neighborhood, and daily interactions.

Ask yourself: When was the last time you felt overwhelmed with gratitude for what Christ has done? How can you better encourage others this week? In what specific ways can you reflect Christ's light in the dark places around you? What would change in your relationships if you truly lived out the unity Paul describes?

Remember, you are accepted, forgiven, and victorious in Christ. Let this truth drive every aspect of your life as you continue growing in Him, rooted and built up, overflowing with thanksgiving.