Christ is not Jesus’ last name (3) Colossians 1:17

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The ChristColossians 1:17 tells us that Jesus the Christ holds all creation together. It’s like he is the glue that keeps everything from falling apart.

Scientists tell us that the actual physical matter in an atom is minuscule compared to the amount of space it takes up in the orbits of the electrons around the nucleus. Jesus entered the securely locked room where the disciples were hiding after Jesus rose from the dead by passing through the wall. When the disciples feared they were seeing a ghost, Jesus asked for bread and he ate it. (see Luke 24:35-43) I see event this as one vivid example of Jesus holding control over matter and keeping it together as he passed through the wall.

Scientists have discovered and named the molecule that holds our cells together, it is called laminin. As seen under the microscope, laminin is in the shape of the cross. I haven’t secured permission to post anyone’s picture of laminin, but here is a link to what you will find in Google Images.

Speaker Louie Giglio presents this beautifully in his video, “God Is in Everything, Even Molecule that holds us together.” If you are impatient or in a hurry, start in the middle where he starts talking about laminin specifically.

We may be going overboard to call the shape of the laminin molecule proof that Christ holds us together, but I have no problem believing that this is not an accident. God’s plan for Jesus to die on a cross was in place before the creation of the world. You won’t find laminin mentioned in the Bible by name because no one would have had a clue what the Bible was talking about if Paul or any other Biblical writer had put it there. They hadn’t yet discovered atoms and molecules in Bible times.

But we do know that through Jesus the Christ, all things are held together, because we can read about it in Colossians 1:17.

Father God, thank you for Jesus the Christ who holds us and everything else together. Help us to trust you to hold more than our physical bodies together, but to hold our spiritual and emotional lives as well in the palm of your hand. Help us to look to you as we make choices every day.

Christ is not Jesus’ last name (2) – Colossians 1:15-16

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The ChristIf you read yesterday’s post, you will remember that if Jesus used a last name it probably would have been “bar Joseph,” since his legal father was Joseph. The rest of the family would not have been called Christ, because the name Christ only applies to the Messiah, the Son of God.

Colossians 1:15-19 gives us some insights about what the name Christ means. Yesterday we discussed the first part of verse 15. Today we will begin in the middle of verse 15 and continue through verse 16.

Like God, Jesus also existed before the creation of the earth or the heavens. That might seem strange when we think of Jesus’ birth a little more than 2,000 years ago, but that moment in time was not when Jesus’ life began with God. Jesus left all the glory of heaven behind him at the moment of Mary’s conception so that he could become one of us – to suffer and die in our place so our sins could be forgiven. That thought is mind-boggling when we stop to think about it.

Jesus is God’s one and only Son and is supreme over all of creation because it was through Jesus that God created everything. If you read Genesis 1:26 you will discover that God referred to himself as “us” and “our” as he said “Let us make people in our image.” Jesus was right there at every part of creation.

If you read all of verse 16 you will see that Christ Jesus created everything in heaven and in earth. He created not only the physical things that we can see and touch, but he created the spirit world as well. God created everything through Christ and for Christ.

Therefore, Jesus the Christ is supreme over everything.

Father God, we are in awe of you and your Son, Jesus, the Christ. Help us to more fully grasp who you are, in greater measure day by day, so that we will love you more and will serve you better throughout our lives.

Christ is not Jesus’ last name (1) – Colossians 1:15

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The ChristWe are used to people having first, middle, and last names, so it is easy for people to assume that Christ is Jesus’ last name. But in Jesus’ time, if he had a last name it would probably have been “bar Joseph,” which simply meant (legally) he was Joseph’s son.

The name Jesus was not new when our Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem. Many people were called Jesus at that time. Jesus eventually had brothers and sisters, but they did not have the last name Christ, nor did Mary and Joseph, his mother and father. The name Christ can only fit one person in the entire human race. The name Christ embodies the definition of the true Messiah.

Colossians 1:15-19 points out some key points of what it meant to be called Christ. Today I will share one of them. I will continue this discussion over then next few days.

The first part of verse 15 tells us that in Christ we see the visible image of God who is invisible. We can’t see God because he is like a Spirit or like the wind. We know the wind is there because we feel it and see what it does. In the same way, we know God is there, because we feel him in our own spirit, and we can see the things he does if we are willing to see it.

When Jesus was on the earth people could see God “with skin on.” They heard him talk, saw him perform miracles and show love to people. They watched him forgive sins and so much more.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could peek through a window to see him now? We might not be able to see him in skin and blood today, but God gave us such a window in the Bible. We can learn about what Jesus said and did. Through learning about Jesus we see God.

Father God, help us to see you more clearly every day. Incline our hearts to want to know Jesus better through reading your Word so that we will know you better as well. Thank you for giving us Jesus to help us know you, and to make it possible for us to live in fellowship with you.

You were fearfully and wonderfully made – Psalm 139:13-16

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20014989_sThe world would have you to believe you just happened – an accident even – no God of creation, no plan for our lives, just something that crawled out of the slime pit of evolution.

King David knew differently. As he wrote Psalm 139 under the inspiration of the awesome supreme God, he gave us a glimpse of the love that went into our own creation.

Please click on this link Psalm 139:13-16 and read the passage. I would include the text, but I must be careful not to quote too many passages directly or I will be in violation of copyright laws. You may choose your translation or read it in several translations, but don’t skip reading it. These are some powerful verses about who we are and how important we are to God.

Several translations poetically refer to God’s “knitting” our bodies together in our mother’s womb. They all describe the process as a fearful yet wonderful creation. Even though our bodies are made in the darkness of our mother’s wombs, God can see it as it happens. Not only that, God also sees the days of our lives before we are born.

I love the entire chapter of Psalm 139 and encourage you to read it all. It is about how God watches over us. We can not escape his love.

Father God, thank you for loving me so completely. Thank you for watching over me, even in my foolishness, yet still loving me and drawing me back to yourself. Thank you that you didn’t let us turn out like accidents, but that you had a glorious plan that is still unfolding day by day. Help us to reach others with the truth of your love that they too may love you.

Image credit: zven0 / 123RF Stock Photo

Praying for our Christian friends with scripture – Colossians 1:9-12

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7208272_s Teen BR BibleHave you ever used a scripture passage as a prayer? You probably have though you may not have been aware that it came from the Bible. You have if you’ve ever prayed the Lord’s Prayer. It is found in Matthew 6:9-13.

There are other places in the Bible where great prayers are found. Colossians 1:9-12 is one of them. Paul wrote this passage as he shared how he prayed for the Christians at Colossae. This passage is a great example of how we should pray for one another. Read the passage above – there are three translations to choose from if you click here.

I am going to pretend I am praying for a Christian friend named Sandy to give you an example of how it works to pray a scripture over someone. I will use the New Living Translation as my guide.

Father God, again I lift up Sandy to you in prayer. I ask you, God to give Sandy complete knowledge of your will and to give her spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that the way Sandy lives will always honor and please you, God. And I pray that Sandy’s life will produce every kind of good fruit. And all the while, may Sandy grow as she learns to know God better and better.

I also pray that Sandy will be strengthened with all God’s glorious power so she will have all the endurance and patience she needs in this troubled world. May Sandy be filled with joy, always giving thanks to the Father who has enabled her to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. Amen.