“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.”
Colossians 1:13
Though growing in my faith, I struggled with the sense of incongruency I felt internally. On the one hand, I’d recently had a life-altering encounter with the living God. But on the other,
I was still surrounded by a world of darkness.
I also occasionally thought, spoke, and acted like a man who did not belong to Jesus.
When I contemplated my inconsistencies,
I wondered how I could truly be rescued from the dominion of sin and brought into the kingdom of God. Any of you reading this may struggle with the same worry. The Apostle Paul did, too, bemoaning the frustration of doing the evil he truly did not want to do (see Romans 7:19).
At the beginning of his letter to the Colossians, Paul describes how the Holy Spirit produces in us wisdom and knowledge of God’s will, developing our capacity and genuine desire to bear spiritual fruit through our good deeds. The tension we feel at times is what the Bible calls sanctification. As disorienting as it can be, it is a sign that we are in fact growing in our knowledge of and love of our Savior.
I was still surrounded by a world of darkness.
I also occasionally thought, spoke, and acted like a man who did not belong to Jesus.
When I contemplated my inconsistencies,
I wondered how I could truly be rescued from the dominion of sin and brought into the kingdom of God. Any of you reading this may struggle with the same worry. The Apostle Paul did, too, bemoaning the frustration of doing the evil he truly did not want to do (see Romans 7:19).
At the beginning of his letter to the Colossians, Paul describes how the Holy Spirit produces in us wisdom and knowledge of God’s will, developing our capacity and genuine desire to bear spiritual fruit through our good deeds. The tension we feel at times is what the Bible calls sanctification. As disorienting as it can be, it is a sign that we are in fact growing in our knowledge of and love of our Savior.
Scripture Focus
Colossians 1:9-14
Insight
Father, I thank You for saving me from the dominion of darkness in this world and bringing me into Your glorious kingdom. Amen
Bible In A Year
- Exodus 29-30
- Psalm 40
- Luke 4