Colossians 1:11-20 (NRSV)
Read Colossians 1:11-20 on biblegateway.com
Verse 11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully
Verse 12giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. Verse 13He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, Verse 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Verse 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; Verse 16for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-all things have been created through him and for him. Verse 17He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Verse 18He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. Verse 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, Verse 20and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Devotion
In Jesus Christ “all things hold together.” That is a remarkable claim. When the Bible says that “all authority in heaven and on earth” has been given to Jesus, that does not mean he is removed from creation like some far away monarch. It means that he now fills and binds everything together.
Through Jesus, God reconciled “to himself all things.” In Jesus Christ everything and everyone has been brought back to God. That is another amazing claim. And, as with the first claim, the question is, “Do we believe it?”
Sometimes the world and our lives seem to be flying apart. Sometimes we feel alienated from God. Don’t believe that. Despite what we see and feel, Jesus holds it all together and holds it all to God – and that includes you.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, in you we live, move and have our being. You are our all in all. Continue to gather all of creation in your arms and hold us until that time when you will make all things new. Amen.