S) "17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."
Colossians 1:17 (NASB)
O) Paul took three paragraphs to briefly outline the rescue mission, deity, authority, and compassion of Christ Jesus (vv.13-23). Nestled in that, as he very quickly flows from topic to topic, is the verse above. Because of how quickly Paul moves through these topics, it's easy to miss some of them. Similarly, because he only speaks briefly on each topic, there are not a lot of words, but the truth is profound and there is a lot to examine. In this single sentence, Paul is confessing the preexistence and eternal nature of Jesus. If we refer back to John's writings, we know that Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14). We also know from the Genesis account, that all of creation came into being when God spoke. That means that Jesus, who is the Word of God, existed before anything was created. The second half of the sentence speaks to the power of Jesus, being the Word of God. When we read a promise like Isaiah 55:11, and we understand that Jesus Christ is God's Word, things start to have more depth and meaning. When we read those words from Isaiah, and then we read the promise of Romans 8:28, and even just the encouraging words of Jesus, when He said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31), and then we read that Jesus rebuked the devil, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'" And when all of this is read together, we can see that our lives are fully dependent on Jesus, because all things are dependent on God willing them to continue, and all things exist according to His Word, who is Jesus.
A) The thought strikes me today, that I do not dwell on my need for Jesus nearly as much as I ought to dwell on it. It's so easy to take for granted, the life I have been given. I don't mean only the things in life. I'm often reminded of the blessed marriage I have, of my healthy and thriving kids. I'm often reflective of the visible, external, ways that God has blessed me. What I mean, is that I need to make myself more conscious of my actual life. The fact that I woke up this morning, was according to the will of God. The breath in my lungs is according to His Spirit. My very actual body, the atoms knitted together, exists by the Word of God. I am typing this entry, because Jesus keeps me alive. If anything could humble me, and draw me to fear God as I ought, this truth will.
P) Father, You are too powerful for me to understand. You are too wise for me to comprehend. Your eternal nature is simply beyond my ability to reason. I can try, with my finite knowledge and the wisdom You have given me, but I still understand I am only seeing in part, like in a mirror dimly. Today, as I read this verse, I was reminded of just how literal my need for Jesus is. Messages abound, and they should, that talk about my need for the redemptive work of the cross, and how the blood of Your Son was needed to redeem my sinful life. I need Christ for my relationship with You. But, just as Christ existed before my creation (and all creation), but need for Him, my dependence on Him, existed before my redemption was even the issue. Even in the womb, I was created according to Your Word. Today, and every day, help me to be more conscious of my vital need to be held together by Jesus Christ. There are metaphorical ways for me to think of this, and they are certainly true. There is the propitiation for my sins, and that is certainly glorious. But even before all of that, even more basic, my very existence depends on Your Word to keep me together, and to accomplish that purpose that You desire it to accomplish. Until the day that You no longer want me in this world, let me be mindful that I exist because of Your Word made flesh. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
A) The thought strikes me today, that I do not dwell on my need for Jesus nearly as much as I ought to dwell on it. It's so easy to take for granted, the life I have been given. I don't mean only the things in life. I'm often reminded of the blessed marriage I have, of my healthy and thriving kids. I'm often reflective of the visible, external, ways that God has blessed me. What I mean, is that I need to make myself more conscious of my actual life. The fact that I woke up this morning, was according to the will of God. The breath in my lungs is according to His Spirit. My very actual body, the atoms knitted together, exists by the Word of God. I am typing this entry, because Jesus keeps me alive. If anything could humble me, and draw me to fear God as I ought, this truth will.
P) Father, You are too powerful for me to understand. You are too wise for me to comprehend. Your eternal nature is simply beyond my ability to reason. I can try, with my finite knowledge and the wisdom You have given me, but I still understand I am only seeing in part, like in a mirror dimly. Today, as I read this verse, I was reminded of just how literal my need for Jesus is. Messages abound, and they should, that talk about my need for the redemptive work of the cross, and how the blood of Your Son was needed to redeem my sinful life. I need Christ for my relationship with You. But, just as Christ existed before my creation (and all creation), but need for Him, my dependence on Him, existed before my redemption was even the issue. Even in the womb, I was created according to Your Word. Today, and every day, help me to be more conscious of my vital need to be held together by Jesus Christ. There are metaphorical ways for me to think of this, and they are certainly true. There is the propitiation for my sins, and that is certainly glorious. But even before all of that, even more basic, my very existence depends on Your Word to keep me together, and to accomplish that purpose that You desire it to accomplish. Until the day that You no longer want me in this world, let me be mindful that I exist because of Your Word made flesh. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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