Colossians 1:19-22 Reconciliation
Format for Your Devotions
Instructions: Do not read my example devotion until you have completed your own devotional time in the scriptures. Reading my thoughts first may limit your own understanding. Let the Holy Spirit speak to you alone before looking to see what anyone else has to say, whether it is me, a Bible commentary, or a friend. Let God speak to you before you let another person speak to you. I have provided a format, but modify it to fit your needs. For example, I usually combine my application and prayer together talking to God about the application to my own life. You can go through this devotion process mentally, speaking out loud, or in writing as you wish. Don’t worry if you are not following this process exactly. Sometimes, I add extra information and sometimes I emphasize one part more than others. However, you should always think about what you learn about God from this passage.
Step 1: Pray–Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance first of all and that God may reveal the lessons that He wants you to have that day. Request that God protect you from Satan’s distractions (and the devil will try to distract you whether it is pinching the baby or putting you to sleep). Ask to see God more clearly as you read and think about the passage.
Step 2: Read the passage–Read to get an overview of the information first. Then start looking at specific parts after the first reading. You may read a larger or smaller section than I have here because you do not have to follow my organization at all.
Step 3: Understand the passage–You can summarize, ask and answer your own questions about the passage, visualize the story, analyze the characters, and relate this passage to other scriptures and personal experiences.
Step 4: What does this reveal about God?–What do you learn about the Father, Son, and/or Holy Spirit from this passage?
Step 5: Apply this to your own life.
Step 6: Prayer
My Example Devotion: September 25, 2020 Colossians 1:19-22
Note: In the devotion examples, I leave my questions and thought processes in the text because I am trying to demonstrate that a devotional time is a dialogue with God about what you are reading from His word. As such, any questions or ideas that you have should be explored by talking it out with God. These example devotions are not my attempts to teach you what the meaning of a particular scripture is. They are an attempt to teach you the process of devotions, which is a combination of prayer and Bible study where you explore ideas with God as you read His word.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
(Revelation of God / Understanding the Text) The fullness of God was in Jesus and through the human/divine existence, God and humans were reconciled. Since Eden, we have been at war with God, but through Jesus, we have peace with God. This reconciliation was not just about humans and God. The other beings of the universe settled any lingering doubts in their minds as they watched God in action as a human. There is no war in heaven now. Some day there will be no war on earth.
Paul asks the Colossians to remember back to when they were alienated from God and hostile towards anything to do with Him. He says to remember back to when they were living in an evil way, that at that time, Jesus came and died for them. Jesus came for them and gave His life for them so that they could be made holy.
(Application / Prayer) My application for myself is that Jesus knows me as I am now and died for me. When I was not even thinking of Him, He was thinking of me. I need to remember that You are concerned with me even when I am unthinking and negligent. Your attention is on me even when I feel ignored. You are focused on me even though my focus is not on You enough. I pray to be transformed so that I have joy in the waiting and trust in the uncertainty and stress. When I feel bad, I pray that I will have faith in Your love and be happy for it. Help me to know You.