“All things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1:16b

Facing the Son

One day I was sitting on our deck enjoying the sun. I looked over at an old wine barrel that has some flowering plants in it. A couple years ago I had a large plant in it—but it died during our drought. I then bought a few very small plants with gray/green leaves and tiny pink flowers to replace the plant. They have now grown into an abundance of flowering plants.

As I looked at them I realized that they were all positioned towards the sun. They strain quite dramatically towards the warm rays of sunshine…and as they’ve done that, they have grown, multiplied, and flourished. The few tiny plants are now many, many plants with an abundance of pink flowers.

Of course I thought of the lesson this gives for our lives. As we turn towards the Son, taking in His strength and grace, we can then grow and flourish as well.  We often feel small like those plants were in the beginning… but with the warm rays of truth, love, encouragement, and support from the Son, our lives are changed. These lovely plants are a valuable lesson.

“We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created. 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. So spacious is He, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in Him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of His death, His blood that poured down from the cross. You yourselves are a case study of what He does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of Him, giving Him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving Himself completely at the cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put your lives together, whole and holy in His presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust” (Colossians 1:15-23  The Message).

I think the overwhelming message to my heart this week is that a worldwide pandemic doesn’t hinder the outpouring of God’s love and goodness… primarily through His dear people, like each of you.

Father, we are amazed when we consider all You have done, and we praise You! May we keep our faces pointed in Your direction.