Text: Colossians 1:12-18

What a tremendous passage to meditate on today: Paul’s (and thus, our) many reasons to give the Father thanks, the powerful descriptions of Jesus (He is…), and His creative works are all food for the soul. Notice again in the passage all the He is and all that He has done.

Now see in the text just what He has done for you—qualified, delivered, and translated. Thayer’s definition for qualified is to equip one with adequate power to perform duties of one, to render fit. How are we rendered fit? “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12 KJV). The power that qualified us to be the sons of God delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into His kingdom.

Regarding this move between kingdoms Barnes writes, “The word rendered here ‘translated’ is often used in the sense of removing a people from one country to another. It means, here, that they who are Christians have been transferred from one kingdom to another, as if a people were thus removed. They become subjects of a new kingdom, are under different laws, and belong to a different community. This change is made in regeneration, by which we pass from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light; from the empire of sin, ignorance, and misery, to one of holiness, knowledge, and happiness.”

Key to this week’s theme of power is the understanding that all things were created by Him and for Him; specifically thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers. As we will see tomorrow that which was created “good” (cf. Genesis 1:31) changed through rebellion; yet, even with the fall and its resulting kingdom of darkness, God gave us the power to overcome its evil empire.

Continue to meditate on this passage throughout the day thanking the Father for sending His Son. Praise Him for your move from darkness into light. Remember that all things were made by Him.