This post by kathylarkman was originally published at GRACE PLACE
Hannah Spruijt, contributor for today’s post
I decided to do something crazy at the beginning of the summer holidays; I would memorise the whole of Colossians. I say crazy because I have a terrible memory at the best of times and in the past, I have had trouble getting just one verse to stick! However, I felt challenged listening to my lovely aunt tell me she was memorising Colossians every day during her dog-walking time, and I thought to myself a) what better way to spend my breastfeeding time and b) what better way to prepare for our year of studying Colossians in the women’s Bible study? A couple of months later, I can honestly say I’m loving it and really benefiting from it. I’m now over half way through chapter one and finding the Lord is speaking to me through the hiding of his Word in my heart (Psalm 119 v 11 tells us to do it!) and I’m finding hidden gems I would have otherwise overlooked.
One such example happened recently as I got to Colossians chapter 1 v 13. That morning I heard that a relative had very suddenly died, leaving his immediate family in shock, which has had a ripple effect through my family. Thankfully he was a believer; a lovely man who had served Jesus with his life through various ministries. But the shock for me was very real; he was fit, healthy and active but then suddenly called home. When I came to open my Bible that evening to memorise the next verse of Colossians, I read “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves”. What a comfort right there!
As I repeated the verse in the half-darkness to commit it to memory while feeding Caleb, two words struck me; ‘rescued’ and ‘brought’. To be rescued involves deliverance; like being dragged out of the jaws of danger or pulled from the heat of a terrible battle. It is a strong word! We can be so thankful for what we have been rescued from! Our sin caused certain death and separation from our Father God. But that is not the end! He doesn’t just rescue us and leave us alone. No, the passage says “He has…brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (italics mine). I found the word ‘brought’ to be so gentle and kind in comparison to the forceful ‘rescue’ from darkness. In fact, the word is more powerful in the original translation. It actually means we have been ‘transplanted’ from the power of darkness into Christ’s kingdom. According to commentators of this passage, this word is properly applied to the transplanting of races, and the settlement of them in a new home. Therefore, our salvation, which is begun by dramatic rescue, is completed by our settlement as God’s adopted children in our new home; where Christ is King and we get to be with Him forever. What a hope we have! Death is not the end! This verse has brought me so much encouragement and I hope it uplifts you too.
