Making Peace Through the Cross

The People of God Set Priorities
Bearing One Another's Burdens
An Appeal for Reconciliation

Colossians 1:15-23 The Message

Christ Holds It All Together

^15-18 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body.

^18-20 He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the cross.
^21-23 You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.

For Reflection

Everyone finds a space within God's being.  God will reconcile all to God.  The Cross is the sign of God's love and God's desire for all to turn to God to be reconciled and saved from our own humanity.  To be freed from our humanity is a gift which can be derived only from reconciliation to the Creator.  Why would anyone turn away from that gift?

Pray

that you will accept the grace of God.  Pray that all will find the freedom from human suffering that is found in being  reconciled to God.