Making Peace Through His Blood
For
God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to
reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven,
by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Once you were
alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil
behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death
to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if
you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope
held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been
proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a
servant.
Now
I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is
still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body,
which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to
present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept
hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the
Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope
of glory.
He is the one we
proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may
present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with
all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.
Colossians
1:19-23
Christmas is the
season of peace. The Old Testament tells the story of how God set the stage to
introduce the Prince of Peace. Jesus came to break the cycle of sin and blame.
He bore the blame for all of us. He is now recruiting followers, who, having
received His forgiveness, want others to receive it as well.
When we live at peace
with God, we are eager to make peace with others. We can both give and receive
gifts of peace this Christmas.
Jesus
took our place to give us His peace.
Our Daily Bread –