PEACE WITH GOD

Today’s Reading: Colossians 1

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

Located just outside the ancient walls of Jerusalem, this rock face is believed by many to be “Golgotha” or “The Place of the Skull” (Matthew 27:33), where Jesus was crucified. Isaiah 53:10 tells us that,”It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.” God was “Pleased.” “The pleasure of the Lord.” What a sublime mystery! Let’s think deeply about this.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

Key Verse: Colossians 1:19-20

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

Just in case we might miss Paul’s main theme for this letter, he repeats the Name of Jesus, or a personal pronoun referring to Jesus, about 30 times in today’s reading. Jesus is the Lord of creation (1:16-17), the Source of reconciliation (1:20-22), the Reason for the believer’s hope (1:5, 1:23, 27), the Strength to live a new life (1:11 & 29), our Redeemer (1:14), 100% fully God (1:15 & 19), the Reason the cosmos exists and holds together (1:16, 17), the Head of the Church, the resurrected One, the preeminent Person in the universe (1:18), the Peacemaker between God and humanity (1:20), and the One who works mightily in us (1:29). Do we have the message clearly in our minds and hearts? God’s answer to human need is “Jesus.” We got this fact as children in Sunday School. We may remember that when the teacher asked a question, we would usually guess the answer was “Jesus.” Jesus taught that we are to become as little children (Matthew 18:1-5). In contrast to the first Covenant of God with mankind, which we read about yesterday (about keeping laws and regulations), the New Covenant is all about a Person and a personal relationship with Him.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I believe IN You, not just about You. I believe IN You as a bride believes in her man whom she meets at the altar of God. I give You, Lord, my entire life forever and ever. As Paul gave thanks and prayed consistently for the people of Colosse, even so I give thanks and pray for all my blog brothers and sisters. I’m praying from the “prayer book” of Colossians (1: 9-11), and I believe God says a resounding “YES!” to my prayers. Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’ve attached a movie clip to the blog of what I believe is most powerful. It features actor Bruce Marchiano as Jesus, quoting the actual words of Jesus. The Apostle Matthew was Bruce’s script writer. Bruce has often guested on the 100 Huntley Street telecast. My mind is putting Colossians chapter one as an overlay to the movie scene. I am deeply moved! (Click here to watch a short video clip).

I have had the honour in several communities to serve as a Chaplain for veterans’ associations. Invariably, when I spoke at memorial services, I chose today’s key verse as my text. Those who gave their lives for our country have made a great sacrifice. Jesus gave His life for mankind to have peace with God and peace between all people groups. He “made peace through the blood of His cross.” I share the fact that each of us must receive Jesus into our lives in order to experience the peace Jesus wants us to have. Many veterans and their family members have done this right there at the memorial service.

Yours for knowing and experiencing who Jesus is,

David