January 26 – “Holding it together”

Day Three of the Cold War has come and gone, and I really think things are looking up.  Chris suggested that we cancel home group tonight just to make sure any residual nasties don’t make their way into anyone else’s system.  Agreed.  Evenings are always the worst time for any illness with me anyway.  Besides, I’m sore all over today from coughing which has not yet run its course.

Aside from binge watching Bones on Netflix while Chris works on a quilt, absolutely nothing of import happened around here yesterday.  That would be a good thing, because I wasn’t tempted to force myself to get up and deal with anything.  Oh, we did get a text from some Seasiders wanting to replace our outside lights that have burned out.  Go for it. 

How about I let Paul do the rest of the talking today?

Colossians 1:17-29 says, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, 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.

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.  But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.  I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.  To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

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.”

Father, thank you for the glimmer of recovery.  And thanks for “holding all things together.”  Amen.