Colossians – Christ in us!
We are getting ready for a garage sale. It’s been a few years since we have done this. Yesterday, we spent time cleaning out the garage where things broken collect and find a temporary home there. As we moved things around, swept and cleaned we pondered these broken things. We looked them over carefully and decided they could be fixed. It’s time to do just that. The broken things were fixed so they could be used again. We had discarded them as useless the way the were but now they can be used again! It is a good feeling to fix the broken. Mm.
We come to part two of chapter one of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. He reminds us of the supremacy of Christ, the One and Only Savior and Lord, who was and is and is to come. No one is forgotten in His sight. “We look at this Son, and see the God who cannot be seen.”, says Paul. We get a glimpse of who God is in Jesus. We get a glimpse of who God is when we love, accept, believe and follow Jesus, too!God misses nothing. He is above all and in all. No one of God is thrown away and forgotten. “Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe–people, and things, animals and atoms–get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross. Everything broken gets fixed! The broken pieces of our lives given all to God gets fixed! We are useful once more. That’s why we praise Him! That’s why we are grateful and humble.
Paul get pretty excited about this as he should…and we should, too!
Colossians 1, The Message
Christ Holds It All Together
15-18 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.
18-20 He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.
21-23 You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.
What do we learn?
–The broken of God gets fixed. Every time.
–God “properly” fixes the broken (all of us) and brings us together as his people to fit together, love each other like He loves us, to work together in vibrant harmony because of what HE has done for us. It’s all about God. It’s all about Christ in us!
Think about it…
–As Christ is formed in us, will others get a glimpse of God through us?
Dear Heavenly Father,I was broken but you properly fixed me. Thank you for your continued work to transform me into all you intended for me to be. Thank you for doing the same for all who love and follow You. Thank you for saving us. Thank you for being in us. Please continue your transformation work of restoring, fixing and fitting in me, your church and in the world.
In Jesus Name, Amen
