“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 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.”
Colossians 1:19-20 (NIV)
As we read the first chapter of Colossians, I am struck by how Paul weaves the power of the Mighty God through the opening of his letter to this Gentile church, and yet what caused me to pick this chapter as part of the Scripture that brings understanding to Isaiah’s prophecy in 9:6, is Paul’s description of Christ’s work on the cross in verses 19 and 20. Surely Paul understood our Lord Jesus Christ as being the Prince of Peace that Isaiah saw!
Notice that just as a prince is subordinate to the king in our world, in this chapter our Lord is subordinate to His Father God.
Notice also that the mission of this One who had all the fullness of God, was reconciliation of all things on earth and heaven to God, by making peace through His blood on the cross.
The greatest dispute in history - the dispute between the Creator and His rebellious creatures was settled by Christ Jesus on the cross. He made peace through His blood - not just an ending of conflict but true peace where Creator and creature live together in harmony.
We were enemies in our minds because of our evil behaviour - oh that I would live as a child of God and not an enemy of God!
But now we are holy in His sight without blemish - oh that I would live my life as how my Heavenly Father sees me!
IF – a small Word with a large meaning that millions who celebrate Christmas miss.
IF we continue in our faith, established and firm, not moving from the hope held out in the gospel. It is faith that connected us to the grace in which we now live - a full understanding of the message of the gospel brought to us by the apostles, a belief in that understanding, and a life that reflects that belief. Faith comes from hearing the gospel, we hear, we believe, and we worship, and out of that worship our life flows as Creator and creature live together in harmony.
Oh, Friend this Prince of Peace we worship is alive in us, which is our hope of glory.
I wonder does this peace we have with God bring us peace with those around us?
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