“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.” – Colossians 1:21-22a
Scripture reading: Ephesians 2:11-22 & Colossians 1:21-23
Here we see that Paul wants his readers to know that the supreme Saviour is also a personal Saviour. In verses 15-20, Paul took his readers into the stratosphere of Biblical truth. He pulled back the veil, as it were, and he gave us a glimpse of the glory and the majesty of Christ.
But Paul would not have his readers conceive of themselves as mere spectators or onlookers only. It’s not just that we are spectators of Christ’s transcendent glory, but we ourselves have become partakers of it. The very same Christ through Whom God has begun to reconcile all things unto Himself has also reconciled you unto Himself.
You’ll notice the shift in Paul’s language. Whereas in Verses 15-20, Paul spoke in the third person, here in Verses 21-23 he now speaks in the second person. He says, “And you!” “And you who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled.”
No longer are we God’s enemies, but in Christ, we have been made His friends. Indeed, there is great power in the blood of Christ – great power to remove the enmity between us and God. This is what Christ accomplished for us at the cross. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)
Suggestions for prayer
Reflect on the wonder of the cross and on what it means to be a friend of God. Pray for the grace to live as such.
Rev. Bryce De Zwarte is a native of Pella, Iowa and a graduate of Dordt University and Mid-America Reformed Seminary. Rev. De Zwarte has been serving as the pastor of the Adoration URC in Vineland, Ontario since April of 2020. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.
