Sunday, 11 November 2018

12/11/18 TREASURE BLOG 10 - JESUS OVER CREATION (COLOSSIANS 1:16-17)

21:14 Posted by Matthew Beaney No comments


THIS BLOG CONTAINS:

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY 10
COLOSSIANS 1:16-17 JESUS OVER CREATION
Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
This week we continue studying from this poem/song of worship that runs from 1:15 to 1:20. 
The song begins by telling us that Jesus is the creator of all things - the old creation; it climaxes by telling us that He is the Saviour of all things - the new creation is coming!  In our last study we saw that Jesus was God made visible to us, in this study we see that Jesus is over all that He has created. 
All things created by, or in, Him
·      What things are said to have been created ‘in’ and ‘through’ Christ? 
·      What do you think was Paul’s motivation in telling us that all of these specific things have been created in and through Him?
·      Read Genesis 1:1:1-3. Along with the Father and the Son (the word) who else was involved in creation? 
All things for Him
Paul says that all things have been created ‘For Him’. This idea has massive implications. Paul is not saying that they were, in the past, created for Him but now things have got out of control! No, he is teaching that creation continues to be be ‘for Him’ or, in other words, to serve His desires and will. 
·     How would this idea have been of comfort to Paul as he writes from his prison cell?
·     How can this truth, that all things created for Jesus, be a huge comfort to us? 
The cross was ‘for Him’ (For Jesus)
We could choose many examples from scripture, but the death of Christ was the worst evil in human history and yet was ‘for Him’ – the people and circumstances served His desire and will. 
·     What does Acts 2:23 and 4:27-28 says about God’s control and people’s guilt in the death of Christ?
Finally, read this quote by Charles Hodge on God’s control of all of creation. 
‘This sovereignty of God is the ground of peace and confidence to all his people. They rejoice that the Lord God omnipotent reigneth; that neither necessity, nor chance, nor the folly of man, nor the malice of Satan controls the sequence of events and all their issues. Infinite wisdom, love, and power, belong to Him, our great God and Saviour, into whose hands all power in heaven and earth has been committed.’
RESONSE
The truth of God’s control of all things (sovereignty) can raise lots of questions, and studying this subject will help all of us. But, in the end, today and right now, we all need to decide to implicitly trust in God’s rule. Come hell or high water, and these come to all of us, the only place to stand in the flood in on God! Let’s respond by offering God our faith and asking for grace to remain faithful. 



DAILY DEVOTIONAL 
WEEK 10 - JESUS OVER CREATION
MONDAY – JESUS, CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH
Colossians 1:16-17For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
The words, ‘in Him…heaven and earth’ are used to link Jesus toGenesis 1:1 where we are told, 
‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’ 
Interestingly and mysteriously, In Colossians 1:18, Jesus is said to be ‘the beginning’ in which God created all things! 
Paul uses the two all encompassing phrases: ‘heaven and earth’ and ‘visible and invisible’ to magnify Jesus; there’s no nothing in the universe or spiritual realms that were not created by God through Christ (and in concert with the Spirit). John proclaims, 
John 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
This verse is enough to dismiss any false teaching about Jesus being created; through Jesus ALL THINGS WERE CREATED! 
The author of Hebrews writes,
Hebrews 1:2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
In the book of Genesis, we see that Adam was put in the Garden to ‘work it and take care of it’(Genesis 2:15); and he was set the task of naming the animals (Genesis 2:19) but, he creates nothing! Only God can truly create, which is to bring something out of nothing; and if you think it sounds hard for God to make something out of nothing, just imagine how hard it would be for nothing to create something, which is what you get if you don’t believe in God!
RESONSE
How often do you go out into nature, and when you do so, do you look for the glory of Christ? When was the last time you contemplated the seas, the stars… in order to be inspired in your admiration of Jesus? We read in Psalm 19, 
Psalm 19:1-4The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voicegoes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

TUESDAY – JESUS, CREATOR OF THE VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE 
Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Mankind is attracted to the spiritual and mystical like a moth to a flame. We are physical and spiritual beings who, having lost connection with God, are constantly drawn to the unearthly. Jesus came into the world to show God and bring us back to God. Oftentimes in our pursuit of peace and an encounter with the spiritual, we can be attracted to false religion and methods that are not focussed on Christ. This is what Paul is confronting in this letter. 
Paul, having said that all things were created ‘in Him’ (in Jesus) he adds that Jesus created the ‘visible and invisible’ - the physical and metaphysical (spiritual) world. 
He includes this term (visible and invisible) to remind us that the realm of God, angels and demons etc. does exist; but, principally, he is reminding them (and us) that Jesus is Lord and creator of this realm. The Colossian church were being influenced by false teachers who seemed to have encouraged the worship of angels. As we read,
Colossians 2:18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.
We can all be attracted by talk of religious experiences, methods of contacting the spiritual, contacting the dead, angels, demons, honouring images, ‘saints’… In many contexts, candles, music, lights and smoke machines…are trusted as the way of encountering the spiritual or God. Like Paul, let us emphasise Christ as ‘the only mediator between man and God’ (1 Tim. 2:5). 
RESPONSE
Let’s not honour the ‘visible and invisible’ above Jesus and the gospel. Don’t allow your happiness to depend upon how much you have and how well your life seems to be going. Don’t base your joy on feelings, spiritual experiences, fear and depression. Look to Christ. Trust in Him and His death to reconcile you. Through Him God is present. Though Him you have peace with God. Through Him you can ask to be filled with His presence by the Spirit and He will do it. But of this you can be sure, any true experience of the Holy Spirit will turn you toward and raise up Christ in your heart and mind. As you lead yourself, or if you lead anyone else, let’s put Jesus front and centre. 

WEDNESDAY – JESUS, CREATOR OF THRONES, POWERS, RULERS AND AUTHORITIES 
Colossians 1:16-17For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Jesus not only created the earth and universe, He also created all things in the unseen, spiritual realm. Paul elaborates on things invisible as he states that Jesus created the ‘thrones or powers or rulers or authorities’.These terms relate to angel powers whether good or evil. Paul is lumping them all together and saying that these forces are not to be feared or worshipped. 
Angels don’t want our focus
The angel powers want nothing of your attention. They forever worship Christ and long for us to do the same. As we read,
Revelation 22:8-9I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
Dark forces want to distract us
The devil and demonic powers, however, want nothing more than our fear and attention – anything to detract from Jesus and joy, as we read in this episode in Jesus life,
Matthew 4:8-10 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.
Join the Angel’s amazement of Christ
Peter writes that the angels are amazed at Jesus and His plan of salvation through the gospel. We read, 
1 Peter 1:12It was revealed to them (the prophets) that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
The Colossian church were being taught to honour spiritual powers besides or even above Jesus. Let’s join the angels as they ‘long to look into these things’ – Long to gaze on Christ and His grace for us. 
RESPONSE
The church to whom Hebrews was written, like the Colossians, had an excessive estimation of angels. They were in danger of mistakenly equating Jesus to an angel (a created spiritual being). 
Hebrews 1:1-4In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.  So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
The ‘inheriting’ of His superior name, is declaring that after His death for sin, Jesus has, again, been restored in glory and rank as we read,
Philippians 2:9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. 
Let’s worship the one who ‘created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities’, who died, rose again, has the name above all names. He alone is worthy!

THURSDAY – ALL THINGS CREATED THROUGH AND FOR JESUS
Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Jesus has not created the world and then left it to its own devices (deism). All creation – heavens, earth, visible and invisible, are ‘for Him’ – they continue to serve His desires and purposes. We read something similar in Romans,
Romans 11:36For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
In our lives, and in a world where pain and suffering are so prevalent, how can all things be created ‘for Him’? 
The alternative is that some things don’t fulfil His will. Jesus is not in control. History is like a lorry, hurtling down a hill without any brakes – such a vision is not comforting! 
In the short space we have, here are two examples of how all, even evil, serve Jesus – is ‘for Him’. 
The example of Joseph was ‘for Him’ (For Jesus)
Joseph’s brothers hated, were jealous, tried to kill, and finally sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:4-28) 
Genesis 37:28So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekelsof silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
These circumstances would have been perplexing for Joseph and for his grieving father and mother; and yet even these things were ‘for Him’(serve God). Later Joseph could say, 
Genesis 50:20“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”
The cross was ‘for Him’ (For Jesus)
Jesus’ death, and the details surrounding it, even the evil actions of people, were planned by God. It was ‘for Him’. 
Acts 4:27-28Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided (predestined) beforehand should happen. 
Although people were responsible for their evil choices, even these, mysteriously, were under God’s will and were ‘for Him’.
Acts 2:23This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
Charles Hodge wrote,
‘This sovereignty of God is the ground of peace and confidence to all his people. They rejoice that the Lord God omnipotent reigneth; that neither necessity, nor chance, nor the folly of man, nor the malice of Satan controls the sequence of events and all their issues. Infinite wisdom, love, and power, belong to Him, our great God and Saviour, into whose hands all power in heaven and earth has been committed.’
RESPONSE
Trusting that God is both good and in control is the path of peace, and is faithful to the teaching of the bible.Pain and grief come to all of us. It’s said, and it’s true, that time is a healer; I would add that time and trust are healing. Only by continuing to trust in God’s love, rule and purposes over all creation can we find a firm foundation. It’s called faith. 
A darker night has never been experienced that when Jesus was betrayed. We could think that the devil was in control as we read that ‘Satan entered Judas’ (Luke 22:3). But how wrong we would be to glorify these dark powers as having ultimate control; these things occurred under God’s will and plan for the salvation of the world.
Will you trust that ‘all things have been created through him and for him’? Will you confess the following over your circumstances?
Romans 8:28, 38-39  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose…  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


FRIDAY – JESUS, CREATOR AND SUSTAINER OF ALL THINGS
Colossians 1:16-17 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
As we continue in our study of the hymn to Christ (1:15-20) we come to a phrase which answers the question, ‘why is there something rather than nothing?’ We are told that the ‘heavens, earth, visible, invisible’ angelic and demonic powers continue to exist because of Jesus – ‘in him all things hold together.’
I was recently in Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival. In the street was a man on a ten-foot high unicycle juggling with fire! The crowds were amazed that he could do some hard things at the same time; Jesus does all the things at the same time! 
We read something similar in Hebrews and Nehemiah, 
Hebrews 1:3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.
Nehemiah 9:6"You are the Lord, you alone; you have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you" 
Whatever laws of physics there are. Whatever forces seem to hold atoms together. Whatever particles found and yet to be discovered there may be, they are all kept in existence by the word of Christ. 
RESPONSE
The days of our lives are in God’s hands.The Psalmist writes, ‘all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be’ (Ps. 139:16). Jesus says, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:29-30). 
God has gifted us with salvation and, whilst He sustains, time to know and serve Him. Use this text to re-dedicate your life to Him. 
1 Corinthians 8:6 Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.

Friday, 2 November 2018

5/11/18 TREASURE BLOG 9 - SEEING JESUS IS SEEING THE BEAUTY OF GOD (COLOSSIANS 1:15)

12:40 Posted by Matthew Beaney No comments


THIS BLOG CONTAINS:

COMMUNITY GROUP STUDY 9
COLOSSIANS 1:15 SEEING JESUS IS SEEING THE BEAUTY OF GOD
Colossians 1:15He (The Son NIV) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
This week we will be studying and praying in order to get a fresh vision of the beauty and majesty of Jesus from this poem/song of worship that runs from 1:15 to 1:20. The song begins by telling us that Jesus is the creator of all things - the old creation; it climaxes by telling us that He is the Saviour of all things - the new creation is coming! 
Jesus is the Image of God
Paul is refuting all false teachers who were seeking to undermine their worship of Christ as God – a member of the Trinity. What does Jesus say about Himself in John 14:9? 
Jesus is firstborn
·     How do you think that the term ‘firstborn’ could be misunderstood and misused? 
·     The term ‘firstborn’ reflected the Jewish culture where the firstborn son had supremacy. What does this verse teach us about how we are to view Christ in our lives and churches? 
Jesus is over all creation
·     Jesus’ supremacy and rule extends over what, and how should this be of great comfort to us? 
RESPONSE
·     Out of 10, how full is your heart and mind with admiration for Jesus? What are the reasons for this score at present? 
·     How can we grow in knowledge and heart-felt appreciation of Jesus?
How should Jesus being your Lord, and Lord of all creation, effect:
  • Fear and worry? 
  • How we pray about problems we face?
  • Our joy and confidence in life? 
DAILY DEVOTIONAL 
WEEK 9 - SEEING JESUS IS SEEING THE BEAUTY OF GOD
MONDAY – JESUS IS THE IMAGE OF GOD
Colossians 1:15He (The Son NIV) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Jesus is the image of God
Paul is raising Christ to the highest possible place – equality with God. There were false teachers then, as there are today, who would demote Christ to a created being of some kind – something less than deity. Paul, however, declares that Jesus is God made visible. 
The word ‘image’ (eikón), like our English equivalent, could mean a range of things; but, in this context, Paul is best understood as reinforcing his belief that Jesus is God in the flesh – the perfect revelation of God. We read something similar,
2 Corinthians 4:4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.  
Paul’s teaching against idolatry 
Paul’s teaching on idolatry (worshipping things other than God) is interesting evidence that He considered Jesus to be God. He said of idolaters, 
Romans 1:23They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
The worship of human beings was anathema to Paul, and yet he unreservedly worships Christ; Paul’s attitude to Jesus would be idolatrous by his own standards unless he considered Him to be God.
RESPONSE
The apostle John said of Jesus,
John 1:18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
Let’s worship Jesus unreservedly as the invisible God made visible. Let’s read the life of Christ in the gospels as a mirror being held up to show us what God is truly like. As John Stott wrote, 
“Nobody can call himself a Christian who does not worship Jesus. To worship him, if he is not God, is idolatry; to withhold worship from him, if he is, is apostasy.” 

TUESDAY – JESUS THE MAN IS THE IMAGE OF GOD
Colossians 1:15He (The Son NIV) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Jesus, the man, says Paul, is also the image of the invisible God. The incarnation means that Jesus is both fully man and fully God. As J. I. Packer has written, 
‘The supreme mystery with which the gospel confronts us…lies, not in the Good Friday message of atonement, not in the Easter message of resurrection, but in the Christmas message of incarnation.’
It’s mind-boggling to think that a man who had a birthday and the same flesh and blood as you and I, could, at the same time, be the infinite and eternal God. 
The incarnation can be summarised, 
‘Remaining what He was, He became what he was not." In other words, while Jesus continued "remaining" what He was (that is, fully divine) he also became what He previously had not been (that is, fully human as well). Jesus did not give up any of his deity when He became man, but he did take on humanity that was not His before.’ (Wayne Grudem)
RESPONSE
Hebrews 4:14-16 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
The incarnation is to motivate us to faithfulness. Jesus ‘empathises with our weaknesses’; He has experienced all our human sufferings and more. Jesus was tempted but never sinned and therefore He is our perfect sin offering. Let the incarnation of Jesus Christ inspire you to approach such a loving God and Saviour to ‘find grace in your time of need’. 


WEDNESDAY – HOW DOES JESUS IMAGE GOD?
Colossians 1:15He (The Son NIV) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
What does it mean to say that Jesus is the image of God? It means that Jesus has all the attributes of God and lived and taught in perfect accord with God. What is recorded of Christ in the gospels and New Testament is God on show as never before. 
Colossians 1:9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form. 
Jesus had all the attributes of God, for example:
Jesus is independent (Aseity)
Jesus is independent, not needing anything in creation for His existence; and yet all of creation depends upon Him for existence: Colossians 1:17In him all things hold together; Hebrews 1:1 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. 
Jesus is eternal
Jesus is infinite in relation to time: Colossians 1:17‘…He is before all things…’  John 8:58“Before Abraham was born, I am!”
Jesus is unchanging (Immutable)
Jesus has never and will never change: Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb.1:12)
Jesus is everywhere (Omnipresent)
Jesus is everywhere, equally present. As Part of the Trinity, wherever the Father and the Spirit are – which is everywhere! – the Son is there also. Therefore, Jesus could promise to all believers, Matt. 18:20For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matt. 28:20)
Jesus is all knowing (Omniscient)
Jesus knows all things past, present and future. He knows all of us intimately as we read, John 2:24-25 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.  He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.
Jesus is almighty (Omnipotent)
‘The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases, whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct…’ (S. Charnock). Jesus reveals His omnipotence through His miracles and healing ministry. For example, we read of Him feeding over 5000 people (John 6). 
Jesus is king (Sovereign)
In control of all things. We see a glorious depiction of Christ in the book of revelation where we see, Revelation 19:16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
Jesus is love
Tom Wright has written,‘With Jesus we find ourselves looking at the true God himself.  The great thing about that is that the more we look at Jesus, the more we realize that the true God is the God of utter self-giving love. The evening before His death, Jesus washed His disciples feet saying, John 13:13-14“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” 
RESPONSE
Is your vision of Christ the expansive, infinite and loving vision that is worthy of our God? Pray that God would continue to teach an expand your vision of Christ. 
One night the disciples were in a boat, in a storm. They woke Jesus saying“Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”. It goes on,
‘He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
A true vision of Jesus as ‘the image of the invisible God’ will calm the storms of our fears as we see that He has us and all creation in hand. 

THURSDAY – JESUS IS THE FIRSTBORN
Colossians 1:15He (The Son NIV) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
What is meant by this phrase? Does it mean that Jesus was the first thing created? This designation must be interpreted by the context of what Paul has already said about Jesus being ‘the image of the invisible God’; our definition of ‘firstborn’ must not detract from Jesus’ deity, and, in fact, must continue to explain and reveal it.
‘Firstborn’ means to be one one in highest authority as reflected in Jewish culture where the firstborn Son had the place of supremacy. Paul, in essence, is saying the Jesus is in authority over creation as it’s king and creator - as he will go on to say in the next verses. Stephen Wellum defines ‘firstborn’, 
‘Firstborn, then, has the connotation of supreme over.’ 
Do you accept His supremacy?
Jesus’ identity humbles, comforts, but also challenges us. We are His creation, He is our Saviour and protector, and He is also our King. This is beautifully illustrated by Isaiah; do we take such a submissive attitude? 
Isaiah 64:8Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
RESPONSE
Paul is challenging us. Jesus’ is in authority, but do we bow the knee to His Lordship? John, likewise, urges us to receive Him as Lord, 
John 1:11-14He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God –  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
His creation, even His own chosen people, rejected Him. They did not treat Him as ‘firstborn’, they treated Him as illegitimate and detestable. 
Have we ‘seen His glory’? Have we received the ‘one and only Son’? 
Have we received the ‘grace and truth’ that comes from Jesus? Is Jesus ‘firstborn’ to you - the Lord of your life?

FRIDAY –  JESUS RULES OVER ALL CREATION
Colossians 1:15He (The Son NIV) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Jesus is ‘Over’ all created things
‘over’ (Pás) – Means to be over each and every thing; over the part(s) of a totality – this means everythingis under His rule! From atoms to the universe, Christ is over all.  He is over the visible and invisible, the good and the bad. 
Wayne Grudem writes of God’s sovereignty or providence,
‘We may define God’s providence as follows: God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he, 
•    Keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them;
•    Cooperates with created things in every action directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; 
•    He directs them to fulfil his purposes’ 
What Nebuchadnezzar learned
Daniel 4:34-35At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honoured and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”
This event depicts the the Babylonian King coming ‘to his right mind’ as he comes to believe in the true God. True sanity is to ‘praise the Most High’ – to praise Jesus as the Most High God. Let’s join him in ascribing to Jesus “His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.”
Let’s submit to God’s revelation that tells us that He is truly sovereign over all things, “He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”
Jesus’ rule is your security
How do you view Jesus’ relationship to creation and history? Are there powers and circumstances that are above Him? Are there forces that are equal to Him (dualism)? Or, are all things, as mysterious and perplexing as it may seem, under Him and obeying His will? This has great bearing on the security of your salvation, as we read, 
Ephesians 1:11In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.
Paul says, that Jesus works out our salvation (as he does all of history) according to the ‘purpose of His will’. How do you know that that God will be able to hold on to you and keep you from falling from salvation? Well, as Paul says here in Ephesians, God’s power to fulfil His will (to bring us to glory as he continues in Ephesians 1:12-14) is certain because of God’s incomparable power for us and over all things.  Your salvation is as secure as the greatness of Jesus’ power! 
RESPONSE
Let’s get a bigger vision of our king - the firstborn over creation as we read, meditate and pray out of Revelation 19, 
Revelation 19:11-16 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron sceptre.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
•    Riding a white horse– This speaks of victory - Jesus will be victorious over all that opposes Him. 
•    Faithful and true– He keeps His promises
•    He judges and wages war– He is actively at work against the dark ‘thrones, powers, rulers and authorities’. 
•    Eyes of blazing fire– Jesus’ zeal and His supernatural divine vision to see all things. 
•    Many crowns on His head- Jesus has ‘many crowns’; He has incomparable authority! (Compared to the devil who is said in 12:3 to to only have seven crowns)
•    He has a name that no one knows but Himself – This speaks of power and authority that is shared with no-one. 
•    He has a robe dipped in blood– His own blood that paid for our sin, and the blood of judgment on His enemies. 
•    His name is the Word of God– This is a vision of Jesus. As word He is God’s agent of creation. It also points to Jesus’ deity and revelation of God. 
•    The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean – This speaks of the people of God, following Christ in battle and victory.
•    A sword coming from His mouth – He conquers by His word- the gospel conquers the nations; He is the judge, with perfect justice.
•    He holds an iron sceptre– He rules the nations now, and in when He returns, He will remove all opposing powers.
•    On his robe and thigh is written, ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords’– And this about says it all!

This is Jesus; this is your God and King!
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