Colossians 1:15–20 ‘He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.’(vv17–18)
The basis on which we can place our complete trust in God is the fact that not only is He the creator of all things (Rev. 4:11), but in Christ He has restored relationship with humanity. The ministry of Jesus through the cross secures rescue, healing and restoration.
When we accept God’s invitation for friendship we become a new creation within a new world order. This latter is opaque within a world most naturally observed through our natural senses, and only comes into focus as we allow the work of sanctification to bear fruit within our understanding of ourselves, our context and our purpose. Our life becomes one in which our eyes must first adjust to the kingdom of God now viewed through God’s redemptive lens.
We discover the importance of our will as we drive deeper into God, or coast along confident in our new birth and our new-found friendship. We describe this process as our spiritual formation, for we now see through eyes enlightened by God’s Spirit (Eph. 1:18). Our model is the incarnate life of Jesus, lived on earth, constantly reflecting the will and purpose of His Father in heaven (John 5:19). I’m tempted to say, ‘like father, like son’. We have available to us a template of living by God’s grace and are invited to explore what this means for our unique personhood as pilgrims on the earth.
SCRIPTURE TO CONSIDER: Psa. 34:8–20; Isa. 48:12–22; John 14:22–31; Eph. 1:3–23.
AN ACTION TO TAKE: What does the phrase ‘spiritual formation’ say to you and what response will you make in pursuing the life of God today?
A PRAYER TO MAKE: ‘Lord, help my eyes to focus on Your kingdom life and inform my life choices. Amen.’
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