Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

Preeminent In Paul

To Paul personally, Jesus was Lord of his consecration, his submission and service to his savior. He expresses this in three ways,

First, He says he could rejoice in his suffering on their behalf. The one who had caused so many of the Lord’s churches to suffer was now suffering because he had dared to take the Gospel to them and was now awaiting trial in prison for that service. And that brought him joy.

Acts 9:3-6 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?

When Paul asked, Lord, what would you have me do? It was a consecration of a servant for life to His living Lord.

He also says in vs. 24 and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church. This is strange sounding to us but what Paul is saying is that suffering for a Christian is taking on their part of Christ’s body being afflicting in this world. Paul is simply saying, “What I am going through is my lot, my portion in the suffering that all of the Lord’s churches must go through.”

This was Paul’s calling by the Lord, Back in Acts, Ananias was sent by the Lord to heal Paul’s blindness, when he expressed his hesitation because of the persecution of Saul we read in 9:15-16 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

This was Paul’s calling, to preach to and suffer for the Gospel being carried to the Gentiles. In vs 25-27 Paul gives us the goal, the purpose of his ministry, Colossians 1:25-27 “Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”

Paul says this is the great mystery, this is the great truth that has now been revealed to the saints of God, this is the great wealth of heaven now given to the Gentiles. This mystery, this eternal treasure is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Paul closes this chapter by saying, “Jesus we preach, warning everyone, teaching everyone, so that we may present everyone complete in Christ. For this calling, this ministry, this purpose, I labor, I strive, empowered by His power which works in me mightily.”

Preeminent Purpose

You and I are not Paul, we did not see a light on the Damascus road, nor hear an audible voice from the heavens. But we did see the light of the Gospel and hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Our calling to serve the Lord may not be as dramatic as Paul’s but it is just as demanding.

If Jesus is my Lord, then I must be the His servant. Whatever road or path that service may take, I must walk it, if Jesus is Lord of my Life.

For many the Lordship of Christ is just a title, just a theological talking point. There is no reality, no repercussion in their own life of the Preeminence of Jesus. We sing, "You are are my All in All," but the song dies on our lips as we leave the Lord’s house.

If Jesus is Lord, then He is Lord of your life in every aspect. He is Lord of your relationships, some you must sever others you must mend. He is Lord of your family and you must raise and protect your family under His authority. He is Lord of your time, your schedule, your energy, your recreation, and your labor.

Do you remember that awesome scene in the throne room of heaven found in Revelation 4:9-11? Read what John wrote again, “And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

That is what we should be doing every day of our life, bowing the knee and casting our crown, our life’s work, reward and purpose at the feet of our Lord, who is worthy.