“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him,” Colossians 1:16.
The passage from Colossians paints a wonderful and awe-inspiring picture of the true nature and original purpose of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It celebrates the greatness and majesty of our Lord in a way that fills us with awe. This part of the text proclaims a simple message about how God created the world, the good news of Jesus, and the reality of humanity’s sin and potential for redemption. It also explains the right way to worship and how we can be freed from our sins.
If we were to sum up Paul’s letter to the Colossians, we could say that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). If we want to understand who the Messiah is, we can conclude that Jesus is the Messiah and the unique Son of God. What amazing news! The Messiah, Immanuel, has come to live among us. He has come to overcome death and its false sense of victory.
The Colossian text is filled with rich insights, but today let’s focus on something close to my heart: pastoral theology and the importance of discipling people. It brings me immense joy to witness individuals grow and develop in their faith, ultimately sharing the transformative message of Jesus Christ. This is critical because we are all uniquely created by God with a divine purpose. Our design is to reflect God’s image and embody his character. Therefore, worshiping God involves living out his commands and caring for the outcast, utilizing our gifts and resources to help and bless others with the knowledge of Christ crucified.
Blessing others is the mandate of our covenant with our Triune God. It is a responsibility that empowers us to utilize God’s goodness in the created order for the benefit of our neighbors. Obeying the Lord’s first and second commands and spreading the good news takes us across borders, cultures, and times of history into the transcendent nature of our God (Matthew 22:37; Luke 10:27; Deuteronomy 6:5). It also takes up the end of Matthew 28 with “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Obeying the natural order of creation is the good news preached, taught and lived beyond the confinements of being human. Our Triune God has created us for the task of the good news and works through each creation for his glory to be declared throughout his entire creation. So, from a pastoral perspective, I encourage you, believer, to be the creation of original intent by doing all things for his glory because all you are is “through him and for him;” thus, God will carry his good news from generation to generation with his sovereign hand.
Brady Roser is lead pastor at The Bridge Church.