Colossians 1:15–20 ‘For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.’ (v16)
Everything that exists does so because God holds everything together. Science indicates the way all of the world interconnects, and fresh discoveries provide greater insight into our wonderful creation that God spoke into existence. Not only is all of life sustained by God, but we only realise our full potential when we find God’s way of shining in our context. We may need to change it when we are unable to realise God’s purpose sown in our heart, and some contexts we can’t change, and must learn to live God’s way in a situation we didn’t choose. I have often been deeply impacted by the grace of refugees I’ve met, most of whom will never see either their homeland or family members again.
Our natural response to life’s reverses is to fight and recover what we miss. But we must first speak with God, for we might be invited to make adjustments to our perception and live a God-centred way in an unanticipated context. This will feel uncomfortable and most likely stir up a host of emotions and thoughts, all needing processing with God. Experiences we might prefer to avoid will serve as the workshop in which God’s Spirit fashions us on His potter’s wheel. We must learn frequently to step back and recognise we live in God’s world, not our own.
Scripture to consider: Jer. 18:1–10; Isa. 42:5–9; Rom. 8:5–17; 1 Pet. 2:20–25.
An action to take: Learning to live centered on God presents a challenge. Where do you struggle with putting God first in your life?
A prayer to make: ‘Lord, help me to choose You ahead of all the many things that attract my attention, and distract me from You. Amen.’
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