If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether

Today we will read Proverbs 15:24. “To the discerning the path of life leads upward, so that he may avoid going down to Sheol.”

The Old Testament doesn’t say a lot about the afterlife. And it would be impossible to know exactly what the writer of this proverb intended. No matter. This was written for our benefit and to instruct. There is a path that leads “upward”. This path is opposite and opposed to the path that leads “downward” to Sheol - the shadowy abode of the dead.

And what separates these two paths? Discernment. It’s the discerning who take the path upward. Does this surprise you? You might think sinless perfection, or righteousness, or religious observances are what lead you to God. Apparently not. It’s this magical word “Discernment.”

If we looked at the whole of Proverbs, discernment, wisdom, knowledge…these seem to be synonymous. And they have one source - God Himself - and specifically - fear of the Lord. No, you cannot earn God’s favor in yourself. But You can receive God’s favor by appealing to God Himself. This is discernment.

God, this discernment, the ability to see things for what they are, to recognize that which is true, comes from You - and how badly we need it. I appeal to You for it. Give me Your wisdom, Your understanding so that I can experience You and live this day successfully.

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether

Today we will read a passage from Ezekiels vision of God. This is Ezekiel 1:26-28. “The shape of a throne with the appearance of sapphire stone was above the expanse. There was a form with the appearance of a human on the throne high above. From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire enclosing it all around. From what seemed to be His waist down, I also saw what looked like fire. There was a brilliant light all around Him. The appearance of the brilliant light all around was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the form of the Lord’s glory. When I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.”

What does God look like? And what does that even mean? Our eyes only take in the thinnest frequency band of energy and interpret that as color. But we know that there is “light” or “energy” far far beyond what we can see. And then our knowledge of energy comes to an end. So does God “look” like anything? He is Spirit. Paul says He is invisible.

And yet here, and in numerous other passages, we get glimpses of God. Rather, we get a glimpse of how He is willing to present Himself in a moment. And it is truly other-worldly. You may want to read the entire chapter to get the context of strange and magnificent creatures that attend to God. But always the most brilliance and gleam is reserved for God Himself.

Notice the difficulty in the wording: “a form with the appearance of a human” - “this was the appearance of the form of the Lord’s glory.” Ezekiel is struggling to describe what he sees. This is the best he can do. Perhaps we can take away 2 things: first, God is beyond our wildest imagine. And second, God comes to us ultimately as human.

Are you willing to receive this as it is? Again, you don’t have to understand. Faith doesn’t understand. Faith believes. And like Ezekiel, we too fall facedown when confronted with God.

God, I do not pretend to have You figured out. But I delight in the beauty of Your glory. I wonder at Your love for humanity - Your love for me.

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether

Today we will read Psalm 19:1-2. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.”

Do you ever wonder, “Where do I start?” In such a noisy frantic world, and in your noisy frantic life, how do you even begin to look to God?

The answer is here. Look to what He has made. The heavens declare! When was the last time you looked at the multitude of stars on a clear night, or took some time to go on a walk, and marvel at the variety of trees and plants. They are beautiful aren’t they? They’re inspiring. They’re meant to be.

These created things are speaking. Night after night, all the time, they speak to you imparting to you knowledge about the Creator. What are they declaring? His glory. God we seek Your glory and we marvel at the work of Your hands.

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether

Today we will read Isaiah 40:15 which says, “Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are considered as a speck of dust in the scales…”

Does the world around you seem overwhelming, loud, exhausting? You’re not alone. It’s easy to be swept up in the politics, pandemics, economics, technology, medicine, environment, society… what to do? And even if you could bring some sanity, where to begin?

And yet it is all a superficial film overtop the solidity of God. He says of the nations, not just our nation, but all the nations ever, that they are the dust on the scales. No they are not even the scales themselves. They are the inconsequential specks lying on the scales. They are a mere drop in a bucket. To God, there is no clamor, no stress, no fear, no lack of power, wisdom, or capacity.

You and I are mere mortals. But God is not. He has no limit. All that we fret about is real - that’s true. But it’s also beyond us. So why bother? Why not instead go to the one who holds the universe in His hands?

God, the things around me are too great for me. I admit it. But they are nothing for you. So here are my concerns. I give them to You. What I really need is You. And I trust You to deal with the realities of my life. Either address them, or empower me and give me the wisdom to deal with them. Either way, it’s all from You.

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether

Today we will read Colossians 1:18 which says, “He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything.”

We’ve been looking at the soaring song of Jesus in Colossians 1. If all the scholars and all the songwriters throughout the ages put their collective heads and hearts together, they could never exhaust the source material of Jesus Himself. There is never a risk to overshooting Jesus’ glory. There is no such thing in getting “out-over-your-skis” in praising Jesus. Each of us whether individually or collectively are barely scratching the surface.

So rather than believing the lie that your praise doesn’t matter, instead jump in the ocean and behold the King of Kings. And add your words to the mighty chorus that is resounding throughout the cosmos about Jesus.

“He is the head of the body, the church.” He’s the figure-head, He’s the authority, He’s the star of the show. And perhaps just put a pin in the fact that the church is the body and the body is the church. That will come in handy in other passages. For now, accept that we are mysteriously part of Christ’s own body.

“He is the beginning - the firstborn from the dead.” It is interesting to note that if the resurrection of Jesus is true (and here we believe it is), then anything that has previously died, is still dead. Anything since that has died is still dead. There is only one person, one being, one anything, one-of-a-kind, indeed One God, Who has died and then come back to life. There is no keeping God dead. And it is important because if He has not been raised, then neither will you or anyone else. If God is to resurrect anything or anyone, then He must start somewhere. Why not start with Himself? Why not start with the God-man? Indeed He has. And why is He the firstborn from the dead? Why is He the head? Paul tells us: so that He might come to have first place in everything.

Not some things. Not most things. All things. God (and Jesus by extension) is intensely focused on being in first place in all things. He doesn’t apologize for it. He isn’t embarrassed by it. And it’s not arrogant in the least. Why? Because He knows Himself to be wondrous, glorious, and beautiful. For Him to not have first place would be a massive disservice to all things - in fact it would be death. It is a gift to all things to have as their source, and their head, Jesus the King of the Universe. And any reconciled being knows this to be true. The more holy we become the more in love we will be with our head - the Firstborn. We too will fall ever deeper in love. He will relish in it and pour Himself out more freely as the ages press on. And we will recognize and glory more and more in the enterprise. So write the songs - sing the praise. It’s what you were meant for.

Jesus, You are first! Have first place in my life. Move out anything that is resistant to You being first place in all things.

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether

Today we will read Colossians 1:17. This profound verse says, “He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.”

If ever there was a verse to nerd out on scientifically, it’s this one. And I’m willing to go out on a limb and say that Paul could hardly understand what He was writing - yay for revelation. We may have more scientific know-how than he did, but in 10,000 years our knowledge by comparison will look elementary. But if there’s a God, and if Jesus is His image, then all science will do is further demonstrate His wisdom and power bit by bit. And His revelation to us will further reveal His goodness and beauty, from glory to glory.

But until then, let’s nerd out to the extent we can shall we? He is before all things… Energy exists in a timeless state. In order for there to be time at all, energy must be cool enough to “freeze” into matter. Matter allows for time. God, and Jesus by extension, existed before time began spinning. Whether the energy of the initial singularity was borrowed essence of God, or if that energy is separate from God is a mystery only He knows. We’ve read that Jesus is the firstborn, or preeminent One of creation. Does that mean the energy of the universe is itself of Jesus? Perhaps of Jesus and not of the Father? Do I even have a clue what I’m asking? Probably not. But it’s sure wonderful to imagine. Whatever the case - He is before it all.

And all things hold together in Him. All things. Things you see and don’t see. It turns out, the things you see are almost entirely nothing. What we call solid, is a collection of atoms. These atoms have a tiny nucleus made up of particles made up of quarks. The solidity of an atom is largely electric bonds in the nucleus. The nucleus is surrounded by a swarm of flying electrons moving in quantized packets at the speed of light. The space between the nucleus and the electrons is vast in comparison. If the nucleus were a basketball, the electrons would be 30 miles away.

Believe it or not, you could have a block of lead the size of the solar system, and shoot a neutrino through it and it will hit nothing. What you consider solid is almost entirely nothing. And given that everything is moving in quantized bits, you could say that the entire universe is digital. To you and me it seems smooth but only because the resolution is so small. In reality, the entire universe is nothing more than a digital operating system sitting on top of the solidity and mind of God. So what’s real? To us the operating system is real because it’s what we’re designed to operate within. But there’s an actual real that’s denser, truly substantial, and before the universe, beyond the universe. And it’s Jesus. He holds it all together. The operating system is His idea and it’s His power that keeps it going. You and I are the bit of graphic on the screen. We think of it as so real. It’s only real because of Him. And while the thought of this could cause us to feel small, insignificant, and almost nothing (and that’s all true), remember that we are the object of His attention, love, and romance. Walk in that today.

Jesus, I’m awestruck. I’m reminded of how little I know - how little I’m aware of. Let my mind be blown but redirected to You. Always You.

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether

We’re continuing in Colossians 1. This is a song, possibly an early hymn, that Paul uses to teach on Jesus. Today we’ll look at verse 16 which says, “For everything was created by Him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

When you think of Jesus, what comes to mind? A man in His 30s walking about? Gentle and humble? Teaching, amazing crowds, working miracles? What is He like? What does He think? Is He a segment of the overall teaching of scripture? Is He the final bit of God’s redemptive plan?

Not according to Paul. This Jesus, the middle eastern carpenter, is not new to the scene. He’s not just really old. He’s not just the darling of the universe. No. He CREATED it! All of it! Every last bit is His design. It was His power that made it all. He did it. And this verse emphasizes some particulars. He created that which is visible - that is on earth. But guess what, that’s not all. There are invisible things also created by Him - the things of heaven. And there’s more. Paul lists a category of creation, or rather 4, that are uniquely His: thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. All words to denote the powerful. They are indeed 4 unique greek words. They mean something even if we can’t parse them out perfectly. But here’s what we can know - these rulers, powerful as they may be, whether visible or invisible, majestic, awful, frightening, oppressive…are all created by Him and for Him. There is literally nothing in all of creation that has any ounce of power where the name of Jesus isn’t branded all over. He is the owner. And He will accomplish exactly what He intends through it.

So you don’t need to worry. They are powerful - yes. But they too must surrender, bow the knee, and yield their power to the One Who is up to more than you, or I, or any archangel or devil could possibly imagine.

This is the Jesus of the Bible, the Jesus of Paul. Who is Jesus to you?

Jesus, I admit, I just think way too little of You. Give me a Paul-sized vision of You. Bring that to my imagination today.

If you appreciate this work, consider supporting it - https://www.patreon.com/seekgodtogether

Today is the first installment of several in Colossians 1. Verses 15-20 are a soaring song about Jesus. You can read it for yourself but today we’ll read verse 15 which says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

What does God look like? What IS God like and what does He do? Is there a question more important? You can spend your entire life building your own little empire, staying healthy, increasing your learning, having a family, fill in the blank, but get this question wrong, and the results could be catastrophic. There is nothing more important for you to ponder than God Himself. And this isn’t just for the religious. Everyone on earth including you has two things in common. First - you are currently alive. Second - you will eventually die. Contemplating the Creator and engaging the Creator is truly the most critical activity for a human being and every human owes it to themselves to ask the biggest questions.

Paul has an answer for the God question. God is Jesus. Jesus is God. Jesus is the image of God. Why would God need an image? Well, because God is invisible. When you picture God, what do you see? An old man, a flashing throne, an amorphous swirling glob of energy? They’re all wrong. The answer is nothing. There is nothing to see. The God of the Bible has no form, no physical features, nothing our senses can experience. Does that bother you? The implication is that without an image, without revelation, there would be no way for you or me to know or experience God.

Thankfully He has an image. Jesus Himself. An image carries the properties of the deity to people so they can understand. Zeus had images - many of them. They were all dumb lifeless statues. And as grand a statue sitting in the Parthenon may have been, it was still carved by human hands, and utterly powerless.

But not Jesus. The true God images Himself in a way humans can truly grasp - a human image. But while Jesus is a flesh and blood image, He is more. He is the quote “firstborn” over all creation.

Firstborn. Some take firstborn to mean first made. But that’s not what it says. God doesn’t birth children. But He does have a firstborn - in Greek it’s - pro-TO-tokos and means preeminent. Don’t understand it? Join the club. All we need to know is that Jesus Himself predates the manger, and the universe itself. He predates time and all, literally all of creation is His - He’s the darling of all creation - the preeminent one.

It might be enough for today to linger in the thought of a timeless Christ, the accessible image of God Himself. We don’t have to understand. It is enough to behold and worship.

Jesus, You are blowing my mind. Self-existent image of the invisible God. I am in awe of You.