King of the Hill - Himalayan Heights – June 15 Readings: Colossians 1:15-17 – Firstborn

 

Colossians 1:15-2:15- Christ in You, Your Hope of Glory

All Scripture is God-breathed and useful, but there are some Scriptures that we can consider the Himalayan mountaintops of the Bible. In the next few months, we will be looking at a series of great texts that inspire and move us - the "Himalayan Heights" of God's Word.

Today's Reading:  Colossians 1:15-17

The Colossian church was beset by heresy, one we do not know specifically. All we know for sure is that it hit at the heart of the Gospel and elevated other things above Jesus. Paul told them our faith was all about Jesus. He exalted Jesus and told them that Christ in them was their hope of glory.

Again, read the entire text of Colossians 1:15-2:15 every day, then focus on our featured passage during this week. This week, we exalt Jesus!

15 He is the image of the invisible God,the firstborn over all creation.16 For everything was created by him,in heaven and on earth,the visible and the invisible,whether thrones or dominionsor rulers or authorities—all things have been created through him and for him.17 He is before all things,and by him all things hold together.

Through the Bible Readings: 1 Chronicles 16-17, John 16:16–33, Psalm 73:18–24, Proverbs15:8–9

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional: King of the Hill 

Did you ever play "King of the Hill" when you were a kid? We'd find a pile of dirt or rocks and one guy would stand on top, declaring himself the king. Everyone else would try to scramble and scrape their way to the top, throwing down anyone who stands in the way.

In this world, this giant hill of dirt, there is a king already established - seated firmly on the throne. There is no threat to that throne, no one who can dislodge him from his place. The one who is king of the hill today will be tomorrow and for all time.

His name is Jesus.

Something had happened in Colossae and people had forgotten that. They were focused on other things - festivals, rituals, myths, arcane teachings. They'd forgotten Jesus and that was a mistake that Paul did not want anyone to make because everything was about him. The world exists for him, and he is the one who has done everything needed for our lives both eternally and temporally.

Colossians 1:15-20 describes the greatness and glory of Christ, exalting him as preeminent over all things on this earth - the king of this entire hill. Today's reading focuses on his prominence over this creation. Whatever the Colossian heresy was, it likely had gnostic ideas interwoven, and saw Jesus in a very reduced role, as a sort of secondary power in the cosmos. Paul blew that idea to pieces. He is the image of God and was present for creation. This world belongs to him as the firstborn - a word that describes his rights as owner. He holds this world together.

He stands atop the heap and rules this world. He is the undisputed king of all that is. The idea that we could live happy, fulfilled, productive lives without giving all to him, without trusting him, without seeking him, is absurd. This entire universe is about Jesus and our lives will only make sense when they are about Jesus too.

Father, thank you for your Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is supreme not only over the entire universe but also over my heart. 

Think and Pray:

Take time today to write down each of the character qualities of Jesus listed in these verses, then reflect on what they mean for the way you live your life.