Kingdom Building

November 24, 2019

Scripture Reading: Colossians 1:11-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. –Colossians 1:15-20

The various schematics used to describe God were the subject of a theology class I completed several years ago. We dissected each of the ideas. Is there a Trinity or not? If there is a Trinity how does it operate? We viewed various illustrations of overlapping circles and triangles with God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit appearing in differing arrangements. All the schematics were followed by well-documented discourses of what they meant with arguments for why one was better than another. I am a rather pragmatic person, but I do enjoy exploring the ideas of others, so I read and studied the variations. My conclusion was that no one can describe God. I rather think Paul somewhat agreed with me when he wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:12: For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

The quote from Colossians recorded above seems to be one of Paul’s attempts at helping people gain understanding of God. I particularly like the phrase and in him all things hold together for it is in our divisiveness that we tend to get into trouble. God created a world designed to work in harmony that of necessity requires diversity. Paul discusses this in greater detail in chapter 12 of 1 Corinthians where he describes the Body of Christ and then in chapter 13 tells us the glue that holds us together is love.

This Agape* love means affection, good-will, love, benevolence, and more importantly it is a choice, our choice to love rather than to hate, to work together for the common good rather than to be divisive.

Prayer: Lord, guide us in always choosing to love one another as we strive together to create a harmonious world. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/26.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.