Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2021 17:42:14 GMT -5
Spitting Image By: Xochitl Dixon
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The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:15
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Colossians 1:15–23
During an outing, we met a woman who had known my husband’s family since he was a child. She looked from Alan to our son, Xavier. “He’s the spitting image of his daddy,” she said. “Those eyes. That smile. Yep. Looks just like him.” As the woman delighted in acknowledging such a strong resemblance between father and son, she even noted similarities in their personalities. Still, though they are alike in many ways, my son doesn’t reflect his father perfectly.
There’s only one Son—Jesus—who reflects His Father completely. Christ is the “image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). In Him and through Him and for Him all things were created (v. 16). “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (v. 17).
We can spend time in prayer and Bible study, discovering the Father’s character by looking at Jesus—God in the flesh. He invites us to witness His love in action by examining how He interacts with others in Scripture and in our day-to-day living. After surrendering our lives to Christ and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can grow in knowing and trusting our loving Father. He transforms us to reflect His character, so we can live for Him.
What a joy it would be if others could say we look just like Jesus!
Reflect & Pray
What character trait of Jesus have you seen cultivated in your life over the last year? What trait would you like to cultivate in the coming year?
Jesus, please help me know You more as You make me more like You!
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Colossians 1:15-23, Paul affirms the deity and the supremacy of Christ over all creation. Man is created “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27), but Jesus “is the image [Greek eikōn] of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Eikōn carries the meaning of “portrait” or “exact likeness,” which is how the New Living Translation renders it in 2 Corinthians 4:4. The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus as “the exact representation of [God’s] being” (Hebrews 1:3); “the Son . . . expresses the very character of God” (nlt). The apostle John says Jesus “has made [God] known” (John 1:18); “has revealed God to us” (nlt). Jesus Himself says, “I and the Father are one. . . . Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (10:30; 14:9). K. T. Sim
Colossians 1:15-23
King James Version
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Click on this link for audio message
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:15
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Colossians 1:15–23
During an outing, we met a woman who had known my husband’s family since he was a child. She looked from Alan to our son, Xavier. “He’s the spitting image of his daddy,” she said. “Those eyes. That smile. Yep. Looks just like him.” As the woman delighted in acknowledging such a strong resemblance between father and son, she even noted similarities in their personalities. Still, though they are alike in many ways, my son doesn’t reflect his father perfectly.
There’s only one Son—Jesus—who reflects His Father completely. Christ is the “image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). In Him and through Him and for Him all things were created (v. 16). “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (v. 17).
We can spend time in prayer and Bible study, discovering the Father’s character by looking at Jesus—God in the flesh. He invites us to witness His love in action by examining how He interacts with others in Scripture and in our day-to-day living. After surrendering our lives to Christ and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can grow in knowing and trusting our loving Father. He transforms us to reflect His character, so we can live for Him.
What a joy it would be if others could say we look just like Jesus!
Reflect & Pray
What character trait of Jesus have you seen cultivated in your life over the last year? What trait would you like to cultivate in the coming year?
Jesus, please help me know You more as You make me more like You!
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In Colossians 1:15-23, Paul affirms the deity and the supremacy of Christ over all creation. Man is created “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27), but Jesus “is the image [Greek eikōn] of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Eikōn carries the meaning of “portrait” or “exact likeness,” which is how the New Living Translation renders it in 2 Corinthians 4:4. The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus as “the exact representation of [God’s] being” (Hebrews 1:3); “the Son . . . expresses the very character of God” (nlt). The apostle John says Jesus “has made [God] known” (John 1:18); “has revealed God to us” (nlt). Jesus Himself says, “I and the Father are one. . . . Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (10:30; 14:9). K. T. Sim
Colossians 1:15-23
King James Version
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;