Heading Home: Walking with Jesus to the Cross — Day Sixteen

Colossians 1:15-23

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for 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. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He 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. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and 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.

And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.

Perhaps one of the most elegant and soaring passages in all of our scripture — Colossians one is a magnificent hymn to the mystery of our faith, our incarnate Savior and Friend, Jesus Christ. You need to be ‘seeing’ some magnificent view of something to truly savor these words, don’t you think? Hence the late sunset picture posted above.

These are words that make me gasp a little, every single time I read them. I have nothing to add today, friends. Just read these words. Then read them again. And again. That is all.

Magnificent God, All-Powerful Savior, Most Holy Spirit — we adore you and humbly thank you for loving us so very well. May Christ have first place in everything. Everything.