Jesus, our Savior

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Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)

15 He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Devotion:

            Those of us who call ourselves Christians often take Jesus for granted. We may sometimes mouth words of thanksgiving for the gift of salvation. Seldom do we spend time meditating on just how wonderful a gift Jesus was to us, and indeed the entire world both believers and non-believers. Today’s scripture is taken from the middle of an extended prayer of thanksgiving in Colossians. In encourage you to get your Bibles out sometime today and meditate on the words found here.

            Jesus came to make peace between God and humanity. Prior to Jesus we were in a state of rebellion and sin against God. Jesus by his blood shed on the cross came to bring peace by the becoming a sacrifice for us. He was there at the creation of the world indeed the world was created through him. He will be there at the coming of the new heaven and the new earth at the end of the age. In the power and indwelling Holy Spirit he is here with us right now. He came from heaven to earth in order that we might be rescued from our lost and sinful condition.

            We should love Jesus more each day. He is our savior, redeemer, and friend. We can bring all our concerns to him, and he will help us. We can depend on him because he has created everything including creating us. We must be willing to give ourselves completely to him. As the scripture says elsewhere, we are to love Jesus with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. He continues to love us this way every day. Even so we must continue to love him back with all our being because that is the way he first loved us.

            Meditating on who Jesus is and all that he has done for us. Even while we were still unbelieving, he loved us enough to die for us. Truly he died for everyone so it should be our mission in life to bring others to know him more fully and completely. God has not given up on a world that has rejected him, therefore we must not give up on the world either. Our hope must be in God who will one day rule this world uncontested by any evil human or heavenly power. Let us take time now to glorify the Lord:

Prayer:

            Lord, we praise you because you have made us and saved us through Jesus your son. Lord we will continue to praise your holy name with all our being. May we be strengthened to love you the way you have loved us. Grant to us the ability to worship you in spirit and in truth. May we have the courage to lead others to you. That all creation should worship you and glorify your name. Amen. 

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