For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. — Colossians 1:19-20

Reading: Colossians 1:15-23

Reflection:

Looking around our country and world right now, one is easily filled with a mix of emotions. Fear, anxiety, cynicism, hopelessness, hate, etc. have taken their grip on our hearts and minds. We live in a time of a global pandemic, another heated election cycle, strained race relations, protests and riots, record unemployment, and the myriad of all that is happening in our personal lives.

What we all want deep down amid these destructive storms of our times is peace. We want peace in our health, peaceful politics and elections, peace among people of all races and ethnicities, peace in our jobs and finances, and peace in our personal lives. And those are good things to want. Yet the greatest thing in all the world is having peace with our Maker. As a Christian, the greatest destruction in our lives is sin. Thus our greatest need and longing is peace with God.

In the middle of our efforts to justify ourselves, prove ourselves valuable, and measure up, we need to hear these words of Paul: “and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (v. 20). The one in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell offers us peace with God through his death and resurrection.

The gospel is news, and news is to be proclaimed. So as the world around us proclaims a pandemic, polemical politics, racial strife, employment and economic fears, and self-help methods for us all, may we look to Jesus and hear him say, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). May we see our sin and repent as we look to Jesus on the cross and hear him say, “It is finished” (John 19:30).

And then may we go love our neighbor by proclaiming a different message — the gospel message. That true, lasting peace can be found in Christ alone, for he has made peace by the blood of his cross. And one day soon, the Lord will set up his kingship of a multitude of too many to number of every race, tongue, and tribe, and peace will reign (Revelation 7, 21).

Should we work to end a global pandemic? Should we strive to maintain a democratic republic? Should we love all races and ethnicities? Yes! Should we work to create jobs and have a strong economy? Should we seek peace in our personal lives? While we emphatically say “yes” to all those things, we must remember the greatest need is to have peace with Christ and proclaim that message truthfully and winsomely.

Response:

1. What causes fear, anxiety, cynicism, hopelessness, hate, etc. to take hold of your heart and mind?
   
   
2. Do you cast your burden on the Lord that he may care for you? Read and pray through Psalm 55.
   
   
3. Who are three people in your life you can a) pray for, b) serve or contact, and c) seek to share the gospel with?