With all of the upheaval and apparent uncertainty in the world, it is more crucial than ever that we have a firm grasp on the immensity of Christ who is the certain hope of the world! Check out Hebrews 1:1-3 in The Mirror Translation (with some of my thoughts in blue):
"Throughout ancient times God spoke in many fragments and glimpses of prophetic thought to our fathers.
Now, the sum total of his conversation with man has finally culminated in a son. He is the official heir of all things. He is, after all, the author of the ages. (Sonship, as represented in Jesus, is the crescendo of God’s conversation with man).
We have our beginning and our present being in him (Christ in us, the author and perfector of our faith!). He is the force of the universe, sustaining everything that exists by his eternal utterance! (did you get that?? He is THE one and only force of the universe, sustaining everything! Keep yourselves firmly fixed on that truth whenever you are feeling unsettled by what you see going on around you!) Jesus is the radiant and flawless expression of the person of God. He makes the glory (intent) of God visible and exemplifies the character and every attribute of God in human form. This powerful final utterance of God (the incarnation) is the vehicle that carries the weight of the universe. He is the central theme of everything that exists. The content of his message celebrates the fact that God took it upon himself to successfully cleanse and acquit mankind. (acquittal means that the case against you was thrown out of court for all time because there is absolutely NO evidence against you!!) Jesus is now his right hand of power, seated in the boundless measure of his majesty (where you are also seated with Him--WHOA!). He occupies the highest seat of authority, in which our innocence is represented."
Uncertainty on the earth? It's true that everything that can be shaken is being shaken, but nothing could be any more certain than Jesus Christ who holds everything together! He alone holds the keys to His unshakable Kingdom and invites us to rule and reign with Him!
"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body." (Colossians 1:16-18, The Message Bible)
Church, we are in EXCELLENT hands!
Much love you to all!
Brent & Suzanne
"Throughout ancient times God spoke in many fragments and glimpses of prophetic thought to our fathers.
Now, the sum total of his conversation with man has finally culminated in a son. He is the official heir of all things. He is, after all, the author of the ages. (Sonship, as represented in Jesus, is the crescendo of God’s conversation with man).
We have our beginning and our present being in him (Christ in us, the author and perfector of our faith!). He is the force of the universe, sustaining everything that exists by his eternal utterance! (did you get that?? He is THE one and only force of the universe, sustaining everything! Keep yourselves firmly fixed on that truth whenever you are feeling unsettled by what you see going on around you!) Jesus is the radiant and flawless expression of the person of God. He makes the glory (intent) of God visible and exemplifies the character and every attribute of God in human form. This powerful final utterance of God (the incarnation) is the vehicle that carries the weight of the universe. He is the central theme of everything that exists. The content of his message celebrates the fact that God took it upon himself to successfully cleanse and acquit mankind. (acquittal means that the case against you was thrown out of court for all time because there is absolutely NO evidence against you!!) Jesus is now his right hand of power, seated in the boundless measure of his majesty (where you are also seated with Him--WHOA!). He occupies the highest seat of authority, in which our innocence is represented."
Uncertainty on the earth? It's true that everything that can be shaken is being shaken, but nothing could be any more certain than Jesus Christ who holds everything together! He alone holds the keys to His unshakable Kingdom and invites us to rule and reign with Him!
"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body." (Colossians 1:16-18, The Message Bible)
Church, we are in EXCELLENT hands!
Much love you to all!
Brent & Suzanne
