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(This post was written prior to 2016, in a blog entitled “Jubal’s Jottings.”)
One of the many issues the journey of a disciple of Christ has to wrestle with is the matter of preeminence. I have pondered this often. Colossians 1:18 says “that in ALL things He might have the preeminence.” (caps are mine!) It seems that we often settle for just getting to predominance, and being satisfied there. What’s the big deal between preeminence and predominance, you say? The difference is HUGE! (caps are mine!) If you think about it, predominance is anything more than 50%. If the scales are even and you place anything on one side or the other, you end up with one side being predominant. So, does Colossians 1 say that in all things that Christ should be 51%…and that’s OK? No, it says preeminence. Preeminence means absolutely nothing else above or ahead of Christ in our lives. 95% might be an “A” in the classroom, but it’s still only a good version of predominance…not preeminence. I don’t know if I’ll ever make it to preeminence, but that’s the goal!
Jubal, have you read Dallas Willard’s Renovation of the Heart? That’ll give you some preeminence to shoot for!