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All for Jesus

Sam Stringer

Nov 11, 2024

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him
and for Him.
Colossians 1:16

I’m not a major handyman, but I married into a family with a father-in-law who is. For many years, he had
a shop not far from his house, full of tools and building materials. You know, every tool has a purpose, a
reason for why it was made. Let’s be very pointed today as we look at Colossians 1:16: everything exists,
visible and invisible, spiritual and material, for Jesus Christ.

Paul gives such a rich portrayal of Christ in the book of Colossians. Within his overview of some of those
magnificent traits of Jesus, he writes verse 16 and starts by saying, “For by Him.” What is the for there
for? Verse 15 says right before this, “(He is) the firstborn of all creation.” The word firstborn does not refer
to first created but rather to first in rank. Jesus Christ is most important compared to everything and
everyone else. Our sin and our carelessness tends to diminish this recognition, but the second we lay
eyes on Him, there will be no doubts.

When the demons saw Jesus as they possessed the man in Luke 8, verse 31 tells us that they “begged
Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.” The demons knew Who He was; this is
why they were so frightened, pleading with Him to not cast them to their demise before the time.

By Him, all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth. All things were created through
Him (the Agent of creation) and for Him (the reason that they were made). He has total rights over all of it.
He can make it and He can destroy it; He can give honor and He can judge. It all exists for Him.

Philippians 2:9-11 says,
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and
of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.

As the disciples rode in the boat in terror over the storm, they cried out and woke Jesus. Mark 4:39-41
goes on to say,

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased
and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have
no faith?"And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the
wind and the sea obey Him!"

Our desires and our difficulties both need a good reminder that they are very miniscule in comparison to
the greatness of our Lord. When my bravery goes out the window, it’s because I’ve lost sight of the Lord
of all, and I’ve magnified lesser things. We as Christians must get into the habit of regularly repenting of
the sin of diminishing Christ and elevating anything else that’s been made by Him and for Him. You’ll
never be brave for Jesus until He is bigger to you than everything else in your life. Be brave. Be blessed.

Sam Stringer

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.

Braver Than Lions

©2024 by Braver Than Lions

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