For by him were all things created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things are held together. He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him; and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross. You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him, if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant. –Colossians 1:16-23
When I was in high school, one of my coaches gave me a placard that read, “What you are is God’s gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift to God.” She asked if it meant something to me and I said it did, but what it meant to me was not what the Bible teaches. It meant that I could make something good of myself and that would make God happy. In reality, the only thing I could make of myself is something that would be imperfect, tarnished, corrupt—far short of the perfection I desire and want to present to God.
To become holy and blameless is the only way we can be reconciled to God. That is something we cannot do. Only Jesus Christ can reconcile us to God. It is His blood that washes away our sin so that He can present us to His Father, holy, without blemish, and without blame.
Our gift to God is not what we make of ourselves. It is our submitting to him and his will so that he can make us into the people he wants us to be.
Gracious Father, today, I submit my desires and my will to you. Mold me into the person you want me to be. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Closing Thought
Just as Jesus presents me holy and blameless to his Father, so he does for each Christian. If we look at each other as God sees us, we will be looking at each other with his loving eyes rather than our condemning eyes.
By : Star Ferdinand
Author Resource:- Star Ferdinand is the author of A Beloved Brother: A Prayerful Study of Paul’s Letter to Philemon, the first in a series of unique Bible study guides. She has also authored numerous devotionals and other Christian writings.
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