Colossians 1 DEVO: Jesus is God!

Introduction:
Like Ephesians, Philippians & Philemon, Colossians was written during Paul’s first time in prison while in Rome. There was false teaching going on which was a mix of Jewish legalism, Greek philosophy and Eastern mysticism (worshipping angels, visions, etc…).So Paul writes this letter to combat these things. The theme of this letter that Jesus is both sufficient (enough) and supreme (over & before all)!
Colossians is very similar to Ephesians. Both letters are broken into 2 equal parts with the first half being doctrianal and the second half being applicational. Both books also cover similar topics.

Chapter 1: Jesus is God!
I was taught in Bible college, and still remember, that whenever someone is doubting the deity (being God) of Jesus, take them to Romans 1, Hebrews 1, John 1, Revelation 1 & Colossians 1. Each of these passages speak of Jesus being God.
Paul begins by giving thanks for their faith, hope and witness for Jesus Christ – each of which is founded in grace & truth!
Then he launches into an amazing passage on Jesus! He is:
- “…the image of the invisible God…” – the exact representation! In other words, Jesus IS God!
- “…the firstborn over all creation.” – this is not that He was a created being, but that Jesus has all the rights belonging to the firstborn because He was before and is over all creation!
- “For by him all things were created: …by him and for him.” – Jesus was with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit in the beginning creating everything! And it was all created FOR Him as well!
- “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” – Not only is Jesus before all things, but He’s the one who hold everything together!
- “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead…” – Jesus is the firstborn = the first one to rise from the dead with a resurrection body! Why? “…so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” – We were separated from God and HE brought us back to Him! What a deal!
Paul concludes with two of the verses I have for my job description: “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.” My goal is to point people to Jesus through His Word so that I can see every student I’ve ever influenced in heaven someday! And man, it’s hard work, but God’s Holy Spirit is the one working hard in me toward accomplishing this!
SO WHAT?!
*Is Jesus enough (sufficient) for you? Often times we fill emptiness in our lives with things or other people but JESUS wants to be our everything! Lets ask Him to make us increasingly more aware that HE is enough!
*If I am created FOR Jesus, then I am to be used for His purposes not mine! Take a moment and look at your daily schedule. How much of it is filled with His purposes and how much is filled with my own purposes?
*When we are passionate about something, we work hard at it! That is what Paul is saying in 28-29. Do you work hard at being God’s Ambassador (Ephesians 2:10)? Lord, give us a passion for the things YOU are passionate about!