Sanctified by the Cross

           People are currently divided, Not sure if you have noticed.  Many opinions are expressed and I do not intend to give mine here on political and leadership decisions.   What I do intend to do here is to help us see the bigger picture, the broader context into which we can helpfully place ourselves.  In doing so we can find some stability, hope and steadiness that keeps us from the twin perils of despair at what could happen and wrongly placed hope or idealism in the fallen world system. Listen to Colossians 1:15, 19-20:  15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation… 19  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.               What would th is have said to the Colossians in their cont...

18  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.  Colossians 1:18-20 What one believes about Jesus Christ is one of the most important things about them.  It is more important than the car we drive, the amount in the bank, or even what our friends may or may not think about us. Everyone in this world is in a tight spot, having rebelled, rejected God and because of it, the world and our lives are thrown into futility.  All of the striving that we do that seems vain is because it is not for Christ and his purposes.  The scriptures say that creation groans to be reconciled to God.  And the deepest groaning of our hearts push us to the realization that something has gone...

15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:15-17 One of my favorite comedic sketches would have to be Abbot and Costello’s Who’s on First.  Being an avid baseball fan and possessing the middle name Brett after KC’s hall of famer George Brett, I love baseball and anything related to it.  The sketch, besides being comedic gold, reminds me of another more important question.  Instead of wondering who is on first base, it makes me ask who is first? In my life and in the universe who is really on the throne? The Bible has one clear answer, God’s son, Jesus Christ. He is the image of the invisible God. Jesus looks like or exactly represents God. (Hebrews 1:...