So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him Colossians 2:6 (NIV).

The Apostle Paul had an amazing ministry. He opened up the Gentile world to the Gospel, planted churches throughout Asia Minor, defended the faith before all and sundry, persevered through persecution, dealt with conflict, warned God’s people about the lies of the devil, taught the truth, and laboured to the point of exhaustion. He endured a shipwreck, beatings, public humiliation, assassination attempts, prison, deprivation, afflictions and ridicule in order to preach the message of Christ and the cross.

How did Paul do what he did? Why was he so successful? Because Christ was paramount in his ministry. Paul’s ministry, while it involved him, wasn’t ultimately about him. Paul did what he did because he served Christ (Colossians 1:23). He was successful in ministry because Christ was in him, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27) and because he depended fully on the “mighty power” God gave him (Colossians 1:29 CEV).

Paul’s life is a testimony to the fact that when Christ is paramount then the Saviour we serve will always be bigger than the challenges we encounter. Are you facing hardships and difficulties in your ministry? Are you being pounded by a storm? Take your lead from Paul. Keep your eyes on Christ and not on your circumstances. And do this by keeping on despite the struggle, by continuing to encourage others, by working to help people to really know Christ, by not being hoodwinked by fancy talk, and by living as you should by keeping your faith firmly rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:1-5).