In POD (Place Of Discipleship, 14-18s Bible Study Group) this week we were looking at part of Colossians chapter 1. It's an amazing couple of paragraphs all about who Jesus is and how awesomely supreme he is.
As wonderful as it is, though, we can often come to a passage like that, read it through, agree with everything it says, and yet be completely unmoved by it. Somehow, the fact that Jesus is 'the image of the invisible God,' 'the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead,' the one in whom 'God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell' can leave us cold. Though these thing are true facts, what difference do they make to my life at the office tomorrow, or as I do my homework, or spend time with my friends?
In fact, these incredible truths make a huge difference because they describe a person. Here are a couple to consider:
‘Jesus is the image of the invisible God.’ We can know God personally through Jesus. He is with us as we work, and as we relax. He shows us who God is, and we can know him!
'All things were created by him and for him.' Jesus made everything and everyone, including the people we don't get on with, and including us. That means that everyone has value - they are the handiwork of a master craftsman, and they belong to him, so that affects how we see them. Each of us is likewise made by and for Jesus. Whose life are you living? Yours or Jesus's? He made you and you belong to him. You are precious and you matter to him. That’s got to affect your day! (and mine . . . ).
At POD we discovered how knowing who Jesus is can turn your life upside down. It's not just a series of dry facts - it's knowing the supreme Lord of the universe personally, and there's no one more exciting and life changing than him!
And that’s without even mentioning v20-23 . . .
Jez Lowries
As wonderful as it is, though, we can often come to a passage like that, read it through, agree with everything it says, and yet be completely unmoved by it. Somehow, the fact that Jesus is 'the image of the invisible God,' 'the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead,' the one in whom 'God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell' can leave us cold. Though these thing are true facts, what difference do they make to my life at the office tomorrow, or as I do my homework, or spend time with my friends?
In fact, these incredible truths make a huge difference because they describe a person. Here are a couple to consider:
‘Jesus is the image of the invisible God.’ We can know God personally through Jesus. He is with us as we work, and as we relax. He shows us who God is, and we can know him!
'All things were created by him and for him.' Jesus made everything and everyone, including the people we don't get on with, and including us. That means that everyone has value - they are the handiwork of a master craftsman, and they belong to him, so that affects how we see them. Each of us is likewise made by and for Jesus. Whose life are you living? Yours or Jesus's? He made you and you belong to him. You are precious and you matter to him. That’s got to affect your day! (and mine . . . ).
At POD we discovered how knowing who Jesus is can turn your life upside down. It's not just a series of dry facts - it's knowing the supreme Lord of the universe personally, and there's no one more exciting and life changing than him!
And that’s without even mentioning v20-23 . . .
Jez Lowries
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