Our Daily Devotion for Wednesday, October 21st, 2020

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 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 and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.      Colossians 1:15-23   NIV
12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.    John 1:12-14
 
In today’s reading in Colossians, an important point to think about is that we are reconciled back to God, not the other way around. That is because we have “departed” God with our sinful ways, and need to be brought back to Him. In Christ’s death on the cross, we are both redeemed ( released from the slavery of sin) and we are able now to be saved ( reconciled) once and for all !!  Indeed , this is The Good News !!    The second reading, from John’s Gospel, is a very poetic introduction, if you will, of Jesus Christ. V.14 is one of the more famous verses in God’s Word.
 
Let us pray please - Let us pray together – God of our fathers, when we were apart from You, we struggled so much. And You knew this. Thank you that Your love was so broad and amazing that You brought Your Son, Jesus, into this world , to pay our debt, to save us from our sinful ways , rescuing us from certain death. Help us, Dear LORD, to never, ever forget what You did for us. We pray all through our Redeemer, Christ Jesus.    Amen.
 
Yours in Christ , Rollie

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