As Paul the apostle greeted
the church members in Colosse in his letter written to them, he
commended them for several areas of their faith and then began to
share his prayer and desires for them. These included knowledge of
the will of God, walking worthy of and pleasing the Lord, being
fruitful, increasing in the knowledge of God, and being patient and
longsuffering. After giving thanks to the Father who made them to be
“partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:” Paul
wrote in chapter one and verse thirteen about them being “delivered”
and “translated”
where we read:
Who has delivered us
from the power of darkness,
The
verse begins, “Who has delivered us from the power of
darkness,...” Paul continued
his list of the Lord's accomplishments when he included “Who
has delivered” which literally
means “to draw out” and implies “rescue or escape” “us
from the power” or “choice,
authority (influence) and of right (privilege)” “of
darkness” or “ignorance
respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying
ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery in
hell”. In other words, by God's infinite power He has made those
who were believers in Jesus Christ to escape the power, authority and
influence of all ungodliness, immorality, as well as misery in hell.
The verse goes on to say, “and
has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”
In addition to delivering them
from “the power of darkness”,
the Lord “has translated us”
which means “to transpose, transfer, and remove from one
place to another”. It speaks “of change of situation or place”,
and not to just any place, but “into the kingdom of his dear
Son” which refers to the “royal power, kingship, dominion,
and rule” “of his dear” or “of his agape”
“Son” who is Jesus Christ the Messiah. Those who were
believers in Jesus Christ as Savior, Messiah and Lord, were not only
delivered from the choice, authority and right of darkness, but they
were removed to Jesus Christ's rule and reign.
As we ponder these words,
let us note how Paul included “us” in his phrases. Paul
considered himself as being removed from the power of darkness and
translated as well as the Colossian church members. Rather than this
blessing being for the Colossians alone, Paul was a part of it, and
so are we. We who believe in Jesus have been removed from “power
of darkness” which would have lead to our ultimate doom, and we
have been transferred, transposed, and moved into the glorious
kingdom of Jesus Christ where He rules and reigns. Ultimately we will
live face to face with Him in His kingdom, but for now He rules and
reigns within our lives. Being delivered from darkness and
transferred into His kingdome is one of the greatest gifts provided
for mankind, and it is open to all who will receive Jesus Christ as
their Lord and Savior. May the Lord help us to realize just how
wonderfully blessed we as believers are because of His great
translation.
Next
time Paul will talk about redemption through the blood of Jesus,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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