These verses of Colossians may have been a hymn of the early church. With great beauty, they paint a cosmic picture of Jesus as both the source and purpose of creation, and he is the glue that holds it all together. All this is with a purpose: God reconciling all things to himself through Christ by his blood shed on the cross for us.
We all have times when we realize something is holding us back or holding us down – a relationship, a situation, a behavior, a sin. This week we’re digging into God’s gift of Redemption in Christ: God’s mighty act of delivering us from anyone or anything that holds us in bondage. Only the blood of Jesus truly delivers us from bondage to freedom.
We’re starting a six-week journey through the book of Colossians, a letter from the Apostle Paul to the church at Colossae. Amid competing claims, Paul focuses them on the real Jesus and living a life consistent with faith in that Jesus. His letter opens with a greeting that reads like an overview (or map) of how the gospel will shape a truly Christ-centered life. This week we begin the series “Following the Real Jesus” with the letter introduction Mapping Gospel Effectiveness.
As 2025 draws to a close, many of us carry stories of loss, uncertainty, and weariness. The world has not been as stable as we hoped, and the storms we face are real. Psalm 46 does not deny the trouble—it names it honestly. Yet in the shaking of mountains and the roaring of waters, God offers himself as our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. In God’s presence, we are invited to be still—not because life is calm, but because God is near.
Love is at the heart of the Christian faith. Our faith depends on God’s Love Unfailing, and Love Unfailing is the response that God requires of us. This love is sacrificial and self-giving, focusing on the needs of others. God expressed his love most clearly through sending Jesus into this world for us and our salvation. May Love Unfailing shape who we are and everything we do.