“And he is the head of the body, the church.” – Colossians 1:18

Scripture Reading: Revelation 1:9-20 & Colossians 1:15-20

Here in Colossians 1:18, Paul brings Christ’s supremacy down to earth, as it were. He now applies the supremacy of Christ specifically to this little Church of Colossae and to your church as well.

Taken together, writes William Hendrickson, Christ’s Supremacy over the cosmos and His supremacy in the Church paints the picture of a Christ “who holds in his mighty hand and embraces with his loving heart both the realm of creation and that of redemption.”

He is both creator and redeemer. The King of the Universe is also the Head of the Church. The firstborn of creation is also the firstborn of the dead. The very same Christ who has counted the stars and knows everyone of them, knows you and me as well. Kuyper’s famous maxim about every square inch is not only written over the cosmos, but also over the church and over our individual lives.

By referring to Christ as the head of the body, Paul is saying that the church’s dependence must rest upon Him alone, and the church’s direction must come from Him. Without a head, a body is lifeless. And so it is, without Christ. Without Christ, the church becomes nothing more than a lifeless institution that has nothing better to offer than what the world has to offer.

Suggestions for prayer

As you examine the various areas of your life, pray that God would expose those places where Christ is not preeminent. And pray that Christ’s preeminence would be manifest in your local church and in the world.

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.