The Apostle Paul continues his opening thoughts on the incredible gift of Jesus:

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. ¹⁷ And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. ¹⁹ For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
²¹ And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, ²² 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, ²³ if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

(Colossians 1:15-23, English Standard Version)

It’s hard to wrap our minds around this, isn’t it?

The Creator of the universe enters into His creation, fully God, fully human, to have peace with God. We had gone our own way, turned against the One who made us, and yet, He sought us out, not to punish us, but to love us and offer a way for us to be reconciled to God.

Verse 19 paints such an image of joy: “For in Him [Jesus] all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” (bracketed text mine).

This was not a covert-under-the-darkness-of-night operation to rescue a few. This is a broad-daylight public invitation that Jesus makes to all who will listen, including you and me.

King David, many centuries before Jesus, captured the delight of walking with God:

You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

(Psalm 16:11, English Standard Version)

May you experience Messiah’s love and Presence in this Advent season.

Joy to the World,
~kevin