{"id":3588,"date":"2026-01-23T14:18:18","date_gmt":"2026-01-23T22:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/?p=3588"},"modified":"2026-01-23T14:18:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-23T22:18:18","slug":"enough","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/?p=3588","title":{"rendered":"Enough"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(Colossians 2:6-15)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We want more. More of everything. We\u2019re discouraged from \u201csettling,\u201d as more is usually reasonably within reach. Products and services are peddled effectively by promising more than whatever the competitor is offering. And why is it that we want more? Because we\u2019re convinced we don\u2019t have enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We don\u2019t have enough saved up for retirement. We don\u2019t have a big enough house or yard. We don\u2019t have enough time to get that<\/em> done today, too. We don\u2019t have enough bandwidth to have that conversation. We don\u2019t have enough\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The words from Colossians smash that silliness of needing more by reminding us unequivocally that we have enough. Paul was writing to people who thought they needed more. They were being taught by others, “sure, you have Jesus – but you need more.” You need Jesus and<\/em> this law or rite or ceremony. You need Jesus and <\/em>to live this way or that way. You need Jesus and <\/em>this enlightenment. Jesus is fantastic, but he isn\u2019t enough. You need more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paul responded with this: \u201cFor in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form\u201d (v.9).<\/em><\/strong> Fullness. What does that word mean? It\u2019s another way of saying \u201cenough.\u201d There isn\u2019t \u201cmore,\u201d because there isn\u2019t even room for more. That\u2019s what full means!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this day and age, when gas pumps automatically shut off, it\u2019s really hard to overflow your tank with gas. But it can still be done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re used to filling up your gas tank, you know how many gallons it can hold. Not too long ago, as I eyed the pump while refueling, I knew it was nowhere near how many gallons the tank could hold. So, I was getting frustrated that the stupid pump kept clicking off every time I insisted on pumping more into the tank. Finally, when a little gas started spilling out of the tank, I got the message. That’s when I remembered that the tank wasn\u2019t near \u201cE\u201d like it is almost every time I fill up, but was already half full. So, once the tank was filled up, the pump was doing exactly what it was supposed to do: shut off. It was letting the operator know the tank is full. It cannot hold anymore. It will overflow if you keep pumping gas.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If Christ is all the fullness of the Deity, then he lacks nothing. There isn’t room for more. He is fully God. He isn\u2019t a stand-in. He isn\u2019t merely a representative or a replica. He isn\u2019t a part of the whole. He is the fullness of God in the flesh. All of God, living and breathing, walking and talking with mankind as man himself while here on earth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since Christ is the fully-in-the-flesh God, he has actual power. \u201cHe is the head\u00a0over every power and authority\u201d (v.10b).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That kind of power means Christ can accomplish what he claims. Anything less than a fully-in-the-flesh God would leave us doubtful. We\u2019d lack certainty. But because Jesus Christ is really God, he has real power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fans of the show, Survivor, have become accustomed to contestants constructing their own elaborate immunity necklaces. Through these fake immunity idols, they hope to fool other players into thinking they have real power. But as real as those necklaces may appear to other contestants, if they try to play them to avoid getting voted out of the game, they end up looking rather foolish. That’s because the fake necklace doesn’t offer real immunity from a vote. It\u2019s merely a look-a-like – not the real thing. It has no real power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But since Christ, the fullness of the Deity in bodily form, has real power, then you can be sure that \u201cin Christ you have been brought to fullness\u201d (v.10a).<\/em><\/strong> As such, we have all that we need, or \u201cfullness\u201d in Christ. If Christ were not fully God, not the real thing, then we could not be brought to fullness \u201cin Christ.\u201d Rather, we could only have been brought to fullness in Christ and<\/em> this or that other thing. But not just <\/em>\u201cin Christ.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet that\u2019s exactly what Paul writes. We have been brought to fullness in Christ, because Christ is fully God.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But while Jesus is enough, it isn\u2019t enough to know about <\/em>Jesus; we have to know how he achieved that fullness for us. Paul covered that. \u201cWhen you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh\u2026\u201d (v.13a).<\/em><\/strong> You and I were dead. Dead in our sins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

People struggle to realize or believe the Bible’s teaching that no matter how good we may think we are, the reality is that we are dead. We are the walking dead. We\u2019re dead in sin. Why is that so hard for us to naturally accept or believe?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, we are exceptional at downplaying and diminishing our sin as not being all that bad. But, there’s more: sometimes the last thing sin feels like is death. Right? In fact, if anyone reading this has sinned (and I think there are a few…), you know from experience that sin is so deceptively destructive because in the moment, we experience the rush of feeling very much alive! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all, isn\u2019t that what makes sin so appealing? It makes us think we\u2019re missing out on something, and so we go through with it to experience whatever rush it promises, and then\u2026 then, we crash and die. Like a skydiver without a parachute, sin provides the rebellious rush of jumping out of the plane, but with no parachute. And the end result will always be the same: death. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rush of rebelling against parents or anyone in authority and living life my way. The euphoria of sex on my terms whenever I want and with whomever I want outside of marriage. The satisfaction of roasting someone else. We feel so alive in the midst of our sin! But the end result is always the same: death. The promised rush was never real, but an effective scheme of Satan used repeatedly to lead a lamb to its slaughter. That\u2019s all sin can do. It condemns. It kills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But now, \u201cGod made [us] alive with Christ\u201d (v.13b).<\/em><\/strong> Could this really happen? How did this happen? \u201cwith Christ,\u201d Paul says. Did God really raise Christ from the dead? Yes! Then God can make alive, because Christ lives! If Christ, who died, lives, then you have really been made alive with him!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here\u2019s how he did it. \u201cHe forgave us all our sins,\u00a0having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness,\u00a0which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross\u201d (v.13b-14).<\/em><\/strong> He forgave our sins, not just because he\u2019s a nice guy or wanted to change his mind, but because he paid the price. He nailed our sin to the cross with him, so everything we owed because of our sin has been cancelled and forgiven. And if it was that sin that killed and condemned us, but that sin no longer remains, then we are no longer dead, but made alive with Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Jesus’ case, the cross was not for a criminal; it was the podium on which the victor was displayed. The cross didn\u2019t mean death and defeat, but victory! And not just for Christ, who did not need to win anything for himself, but a victory he won for us! And he didn\u2019t hesitate to make that victory known, but displayed it clearly for Satan and all who oppose him to see. \u201cAnd having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them\u00a0by the cross\u201d (v.15).<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most trophy cases have plaques and medals and ribbons, but Christ\u2019s has a cross. Just think of how Satan despises that cross around your neck, displayed on your wall at home, fixed in the front of churches! They serve as a constant reminder of our victory and his defeat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know who Jesus is – the fullness of God. We know how fullness in Christ is found: through the cross. When, though, does it become ours? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In baptism. Paul wrote, \u201cYour whole self ruled by the flesh\u00a0was put off when you were circumcised by\u00a0Christ,\u00a0 having been buried with him in baptism,\u00a0in which you were also raised with him\u00a0through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead\u201d (v.11b-12). <\/em><\/strong>In baptism, you were buried and raised with Christ. In baptism, God cut out the old self ruled by the sinful flesh and raised up the new child of God.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you feel alive? You are, in Christ. What now? In this new year, you don\u2019t need more – at least not more of the same old stuff you\u2019ve chased after in the past that has gotten you where you are today. If you\u2019re still chasing after more in this life because you don\u2019t have enough, then maybe it\u2019s time to start pursuing more of the One who is enough. How? \u201cSo then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,\u00a0rooted\u00a0and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,\u00a0and overflowing with thankfulness\u201d (v.6-7).<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe your life doesn\u2019t feel like enough because you\u2019re not continuing to live in him. Maybe your life doesn\u2019t feel like enough because your roots are too shallow. Maybe your life doesn\u2019t feel like enough because your faith is so weak. Maybe your life doesn\u2019t feel like enough because you\u2019re not very grateful.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you want to live your life in him, deepen your roots, strengthen your faith, or grow in gratitude – but you don\u2019t know how? If that\u2019s the case, you\u2019re in the right place. Start here! Dig into the Word – and get into God’s house. Find a local Christian congregation that unapologetically proclaims Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever you\u2019ve told yourself to keep you from being at church – discard those lying, deceitful reasons! If Christ is enough – and he is – church is where Christ is proclaimed. And where Christ is, that\u2019s where roots deepen and faith is strengthened. Where Christ is, is where thankfulness begins to overflow.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than likely, there’s going to be a need to establish some new habits. Research shows that success in achieving goals and growth doesn\u2019t most often come the way we might think it does: with big, sweeping, radical changes that completely transform our lives. Rather, lasting success comes from very small choices or habits carried out consistently over time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another popular way of expressing this principle is the one percent rule. If you focus on getting just one percent better each day and carry it out repeatedly, those efforts will compound over time into something bigger. Put your dish in the dishwasher daily instead of on the counter. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. One serving of dessert. You get the point.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doesn\u2019t it seem like Paul understood this? He didn\u2019t write to the Colossians, \u201cOh, Jesus Christ is your Lord? That\u2019s great, then you\u2019re good to go.\u201d He wrote, \u201ccontinue to live your lives in him.\u201d Continue. Consistently. 1% every day. One Bible verse on your phone daily. Say a prayer first thing in the morning. Thank God for one blessing every day. One act of service for someone daily. Some of you might need to start with smaller, weekly steps. How about one Sunday a week at church? \ud83d\ude42 Whatever it is, don\u2019t stop. Continue. Consistently. Because Christ. Is. Enough.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Colossians 2:6-15) We want more. More of everything. We\u2019re discouraged from \u201csettling,\u201d as more is usually reasonably within reach. Products and services are peddled effectively by promising more than whatever the competitor is offering. And why is it that we want more? Because we\u2019re convinced we don\u2019t have enough. We don\u2019t have enough saved up… Continue reading Enough<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1284,65],"tags":[96,32,1336,755,1337,355,5,1338,354,109,36,108],"class_list":["post-3588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-identity-revealed-series","category-sermons","tag-baptism","tag-christ","tag-enough","tag-fulfillment","tag-fullness","tag-guys","tag-jesus","tag-more","tag-prayers","tag-preaching","tag-sermon","tag-teaching"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s842FN-enough","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3588","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3588"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3596,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3588\/revisions\/3596"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/1thingmatters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}