Verse of the Day 1/14

Through the Bible - Genesis 33-35, Romans 11:19:36

 

Good morning,

I ended yesterday's devotional with a few lines from Matt Redman's "Never Let Go", I'll start with some of those words today.  "I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on".  Think about that for a minute as you consider those who have held on through the ages.  If you are reading in Genesis, Noah, Abraham, Jacob and soon Joseph come to mind for starters.

 

I saw a picture in Pastor Ray Ortlund's blog yesterday, the theme was "I will help you".   I couldn't paste the picture, but you can go to the blog and see it.   http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/rayortlund/2011/01/12/i-will-help-you/  It is a picture of Daniel in the lion's den.

 

The reason that we have confidence, that we can see the light that is coming, is that we believe in the one who is over "all things".  Yesterday in Romans 8, the "all things" theme was repeated 3 times in the passage.  In today's verses from Colossians 1 those words are repeated 3 times in these verses alone.

 

Col 1: 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.    ESV

Have you ever been in a situation, in a crisis where it seemed that one person held everything together?  In reality it is God that holds everything together.  He puts people like Joseph in places where they will hold things together.  They way they got there may not have been pleasant at the time, but they saw the light that was coming.  They trusted, they followed and they served God.

 

Perhaps you've been or will be the person that holds things together at some point in your life.  If so, it is because the one who created all things and is over all things has put you there for that time and for that purpose.

 

Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

As you read and study the Bible this year, when you see the words "all things" in the Bible, especially in Paul's writings, dig into the passage a little deeper.  Think about the significance and how it applies to your life.

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Col 1:15-23

 

The Preeminence of Christ

 

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. 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.

 

21  And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind,  doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled  in his body of flesh by his death,  in order to present you holy and blameless and  above reproach before him, 23  if indeed you continue in the faith,  stable and steadfast, not shifting from  the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed  in all creation under heaven,  and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
ESV