Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it.
Colossians 1:15-23 NLT
God's truth only changes our lives if we stand firm in it. These verses are a hymn about Christ’s power and exalted position. Christ is fully God; therefore, the fullness of God lives in Him. He made everything, and He is supreme over all creation. He is the head of the Church and made peace with everything in heaven and earth. Paul didn't just write out the lines of the hymn; he applied them to the Colossians. They had been reconciled; they were blameless in the sight of God because they trusted in Jesus. Guilt was gone, and they had a new relationship with God that changed everything.
It is not enough to know the right things; we have to really live them out. We can take in much information, but faith isn't just knowledge: it is living trust. Faith means living out God's truth in our hearts, minds, and actions. Only then will faith really be alive to experience the power of God's Word. Too often people read the Bible but don't do anything about it. Too often a sermon is listened to, but no one asks, “What action or habit should I put into action this week?” Don't overthink it—just read God's message and put it into action.
If Christ is supreme over all creation, what can this mean in your life today? What is one verse you can remember and live out today?
