Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Colossians 1:15-21 (ESV)
The Preeminence of Christ
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
As you read the story of Joseph this week did you see how his story foreshadowed the life of Jesus? How, like Joseph, Jesus was rejected and abused by his own people? How, like Joseph, Jesus was raised out of the pit (of death) and now sits enthroned at the right hand of God? How in the famine of our sin Jesus provides nourishment and life? When we fail and fall short in our daily lives and act like we are the center of the universe we separate ourselves from God. We do things that distance ourselves and create animosity in our hearts and minds. But Christ has reconciled us to the Father and now God wants us to share the new life that we have been given to others through forgiveness, reconciliation and sharing of the good news of Christ’s death and resurrection so that everyone we know and meet can have abundant and eternal life!