2020 Daily Devotion - Day 87
My good friend, Dr. Hall Seed, recently wrote this devotional for his congregation in Oceanside, California, which I thought was very insightful. Many of you will remember Dr. Seed as our presenter for our Weekend in the Word Conference we held in early March of 2020.
One of the most vivid passages on Jesus is Colossians 1:15-20: He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. He 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 first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
If you want to know what the Father (whom you cannot see) is like, look at the Son. He is the Father’s “image” or “copy”.
He’s also, “the firstborn of all creation” which does not mean He was created, rather, that He is preexistent, unique, and superior to everything that has been created.
16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him.
One reason He is unique is because He created, quite literally, everything. Theologians call Him “the intermediate agent of creation”. In the beginning, the Father “spoke” (Genesis 1:3) and the Son carried out the Father’s intended actions by creating. In other words, the Father created the universe by means of the Son, who did the actual work.
Jesus created not only the things we see, but the things we don’t see: gravity, electromagnetism, the strong force and the weak force, protons, neutrons, quarks and muons, bosons and alpha particles. The list is endless, for the creativity of our Savior is infinite.
Along with all nature and forces of nature, Jesus created the angels. “Thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities” are four of the nine ranks of angelic beings; along with virtues, seraphim, cherubim, angels, and archangels.
Just so we don’t miss it, verse 17 summarizes what’s been said so far with “all things have been created through Him”.
Look around for a second. Everything you see, feel, touch, taste or smell was made through Him. And everything beyond your five senses was, too.
The last three words in this verse stop me in my tracks, “…and for Him”. Everything that exists was not only created through Him. Everything that has been created was created for Him.
Think about this for a minute.
The eggs you ate for breakfast weren’t created for you. They were created for Him. Their size, shape, color, taste… even the nutrition you derive from them give Him glory.
The air you breathe wasn’t created to give you life. It was created to give Him glory. You and I just get to breathe it because our breathing gives Him glory.
Your view of the sunset, the sleep you experience, the joy you feel, the birds and the bees, and the thing we think of when we refer to “the birds and the bees” were all created to give Him glory.
We live in His universe. And we, the pinnacle of His creation (Genesis 1:31), were created to give Him great glory.
Pause for a minute…. Breathe. Smell. See. Feel.
Everything you sense and everything you experience was made by Him, and for Him. He is IT!
And yet, for all He is, He came to earth for you. He lived so you could see God’s image. He suffered so you could live with Him forever.
Be still for a moment and say “Thank You Lord.”
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, We thank You for this great message from Pastor Hal Seed. Use it Lord, to help us better understand who You are and what You have done for us in Christ Jesus. In His name we pray. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
One of the most vivid passages on Jesus is Colossians 1:15-20: He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. He 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 first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. For in him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
If you want to know what the Father (whom you cannot see) is like, look at the Son. He is the Father’s “image” or “copy”.
He’s also, “the firstborn of all creation” which does not mean He was created, rather, that He is preexistent, unique, and superior to everything that has been created.
16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him.
One reason He is unique is because He created, quite literally, everything. Theologians call Him “the intermediate agent of creation”. In the beginning, the Father “spoke” (Genesis 1:3) and the Son carried out the Father’s intended actions by creating. In other words, the Father created the universe by means of the Son, who did the actual work.
Jesus created not only the things we see, but the things we don’t see: gravity, electromagnetism, the strong force and the weak force, protons, neutrons, quarks and muons, bosons and alpha particles. The list is endless, for the creativity of our Savior is infinite.
Along with all nature and forces of nature, Jesus created the angels. “Thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities” are four of the nine ranks of angelic beings; along with virtues, seraphim, cherubim, angels, and archangels.
Just so we don’t miss it, verse 17 summarizes what’s been said so far with “all things have been created through Him”.
Look around for a second. Everything you see, feel, touch, taste or smell was made through Him. And everything beyond your five senses was, too.
The last three words in this verse stop me in my tracks, “…and for Him”. Everything that exists was not only created through Him. Everything that has been created was created for Him.
Think about this for a minute.
The eggs you ate for breakfast weren’t created for you. They were created for Him. Their size, shape, color, taste… even the nutrition you derive from them give Him glory.
The air you breathe wasn’t created to give you life. It was created to give Him glory. You and I just get to breathe it because our breathing gives Him glory.
Your view of the sunset, the sleep you experience, the joy you feel, the birds and the bees, and the thing we think of when we refer to “the birds and the bees” were all created to give Him glory.
We live in His universe. And we, the pinnacle of His creation (Genesis 1:31), were created to give Him great glory.
Pause for a minute…. Breathe. Smell. See. Feel.
Everything you sense and everything you experience was made by Him, and for Him. He is IT!
And yet, for all He is, He came to earth for you. He lived so you could see God’s image. He suffered so you could live with Him forever.
Be still for a moment and say “Thank You Lord.”
Pray with me:
Heavenly Father, We thank You for this great message from Pastor Hal Seed. Use it Lord, to help us better understand who You are and what You have done for us in Christ Jesus. In His name we pray. Amen.
Yours because of Him,
Pastor John R. Steward
Senior Pastor
Mount of Olives Church
Beautifully explained, clarity and purpose. So very much to be thankful for and to rejoice daily, to give Glory to the first born in creation.
ReplyDeleteThank you for these daily devotionals, mini messages that feed my soul and can be shared with others.❤🙏