Setting Your Stance

Setting Your Stance: Ordered and Firm in Christ 

Col 2:5  For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.  

Thoughts 

Paul says he is glad to see the Colossians’ “good order” and the “firmness” of their faith. These two Greek words come from military language: taxis means a well-arranged formation, and stereōma means a solid, unshakable stance. Paul imagines a church that is not scattered or drifting, but one that stands together, united and disciplined. This unity shows that Christ is truly working among them. 

Paul is not just praising the church as a group. A well-ordered church comes from believers who are well-ordered in their own lives. A strong church is built on strong disciples. The order Paul sees in Colossae starts with the daily choices of each Christian who decides to steady their steps, grow in faith, and stand firm in Christ. His joy is personal because their growth is personal—real people learning to live with spiritual stability. 

It’s like playing disc golf on a windy day. You and your cardmatesstand on the tee pad, facing tough conditions. The fairway is narrow, and there’s little room for mistakes. To make a good throw, you must pick your line and commit fully—planting your feet, squaring your shoulders, and setting your release angle. If you stand carelessly or your timing is off, the wind will make your flaws obvious. But with a precise, steady form, you can resist the wind’s force. Your preparation lets you keep your disc on its path, despite the pressure. 

Paul says the Colossians were doing, spiritually, what a disciplined player does physically: standing in formation, holding their line, and resisting the pressure of false teaching and cultural drift. Their order wasn’t rigid legalism; it was the steady posture of people who know to whom they belong. Their firmness wasn’t stubbornness; it was the settled confidence that Christ is enough . 

And this is where the individual application becomes unavoidable: your stance matters. Your spiritual order contributes to the church’s order. Your firmness strengthens the church’s firmness. When you choose to anchor yourself in Christ — in Scripture, in prayer, in community, in obedience — you help the whole body stand stronger. Paul rejoices not because believers are perfect, but because they are planted, aligned, and holding together under pressure . That’s what he longs for every church — and every Christian: not scattered lives reacting to every gust of teaching, but believers rooted in Christ, unmoved by the wind . 

Meditate on these things as we go throw to the glory of God. 

Reflections 

1. Where do I need to bring more order into my walk with Christ so that my life strengthens, rather than weakens, the formation of the church? 

2. What pressures—internal or external—most often push against my stance, and how can I anchor myself more firmly in Christ to hold my line? 

Prayer 

Holy Father, thank you for Your Son, who gave his life for us. Help us as we continue to grow to the maturity Paul rejoiced over. Continue to give us opportunities to share Your goodness with others as we go about our everyday lives. Forgive us where we have failed you. 

In Your name, we pray. 

Amen 

Contributed by Steve Franklin PDGA #194303