Colossians: It’s All About Jesus (Holds Everything Together)

Hello Friends,

It’s so wonderful to see you again! Thank you so much for stopping by! How are you doing? Can you believe that the countdown to Summer Vacation has begun?! Do you have any exciting plans for the summer? I know some of you are probably going to do some exploring, and some of you are going to embark on journeys that lead to great discoveries. Others of you are going to spend your days outside, running around, swinging on some swings, going swimming, and possibly doing some work in the fields. Summer vacation is filled with excitement and new adventures! Now, I don’t get Summer vacations like you do…. I still have to work. But, that doesn’t mean I still can’t enjoy the summer!

Every year around this time, as I hear people making plans for the summer, I catch myself humming, “He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the whole world in His hands. He’s got the whole world in his hands.” Looking at the beautiful flowers, the trees budding, the green grass growing, and listening to the birds singing and the footsteps of people being outside, I am reminded that He, God, has got the whole world in His hands. Even when we don’t feel like He does, He is certainly holding it in His hands.

This reminds me of another attribute of Jesus. Paul tells us that Jesus holds everything together. But before we get to that, do you remember from last week how Paul described who Jesus is?

Colossians 1:16: “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” (1:16). Through this description of Jesus, we learn not only who Jesus is but what he is telling us, providing us, and teaching us. Jesus is telling us that he is the sovereign Lord who rules over all creation today, tomorrow, and every day. Jesus is providing us with the encouragement that even in a world filled with bad stuff, we can still find a Jesus that is loving, kind, grace-filled, and understanding. And Jesus teaches us that we are living within God’s creation and that we should be willing to be used by Jesus and for Jesus to maintain the creation that God called “good.” Paul is telling us that Jesus is over all creation, and that creation is in Jesus, works through Jesus, and is for Jesus–meaning it has a purpose and plan. “It is good”!

Now, let’s think about how Jesus is the one who holds all things together, sort of like super glue or duct tape…

Colossians 1:17: “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (1:17). I think, out of everything that we have talked about so for, this part amazes me the most. We tend to think that God created everything and invented the laws of nature, almost like we might spin a top and then watch it go. But that’s not what’s happened. Not only did Jesus create everything, but “he upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). Every atom, every cell, every object, the entire universe holds together because Jesus is holding it all together on an ongoing basis. If Jesus stopped for a moment, everything would cease to exist. Right now the chair you’re sitting on only exists because Jesus is holding it together.

More importantly, Jesus is holding you together. Jesus puts us back together when we have fallen apart. Jesus holds us when we are sad and unhappy. Jesus holds us when we aren’t listening to our parents. Jesus holds us when we get scared or are “frightened by the monsters on T.V.” Jesus holds us when we feel alone and don’t feel good. And Jesus evens holds us when we are happy, joyful, excited, full of energy, listening to our parents, being nice to our siblings, and sharing his love with everyone. It’s almost like Jesus is walking around with super glue and duct tape waiting to hold us and put us back together. Jesus holds all things together because he’s got the whole world in his hands, and that includes you.

As you continue to think about who Jesus is, remember that he has the whole world in his hands; and in this world is you which means that he is holding you in his hands, close to his heart, because he loves you. I know this because the Bible tells me so. So, as you make those summer plans, keep in mind that Jesus is with you and he is never going to let you go!

Have a great week!

Your Friend, Holy Spirit!

Lesson borrowed from: https://www.dashhouse.com/renewing-our-vision-of-jesus-colossians-115-23