S – For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile 

everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace 

through his blood, shed on the cross.

Colosians 1:19–20 CSB

O – Commentary:

The sixth description of the exalted Christ is that all God’s fullness dwell[s] in Him. Later Paul wrote, “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (2:9). Colossians 1:19 is one of the most powerful descriptions of Christ’s deity in the New Testament (cf. Heb. 1:3). “Fullness” (plērōma), a key word in Colossians, is used in 1:19 and 2:9. (The verb plēroō is used in 1:9, 25; 2:10; and 4:17.) The noun means “completeness” and is used of a wide range of things including God’s being (Eph. 3:19), time (Gal. 4:4), and grace in Christ (John 1:16). This full and complete Deity is said to “dwell” (katoikēsai, “abide lastingly or permanently”) in Christ.

1:20. The seventh feature of Christ is that He is the Reconciler. Through Christ God will reconcile to Himself all things. The phrase “all things” is limited to good angels and redeemed people since only things on earth and things in heaven are mentioned. Things “under the earth” (Phil. 2:10) are not reconciled. On God’s restoring of nature, see comments on Romans 8:19–21; and on the reconciling of sinners, see comments on Romans 5:10–11 and 2 Corinthians 5:17–20. It is important to note that people are reconciled to God (“to Himself”) not that God is reconciled to people. For mankind has left God and needs to be brought back to Him.

“Colossians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Think about “all of God’s fullness” dwelling in one person.  It is mind blowing. Then think of that person crucified on the cross. Again, the “bigness” of God was killed at the hands of petty people.  Hard to fathom.  Finally, full reconciliation between man and God is created. Unprecedented.  It is humbling to read this and not feel extreme humility and gratitude.

R – Heavenly Father, we stand in awe of who you are and your love for us. Your actions leave us with nothing but gratitude and humility.  We didn’t deserve your demonstrations of love but we are so thankful for them.  Help us to reflect our love for you today.

S – He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ 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

Col 1:15–16.

O – Commentary:

visible image: In the Greek translation of the OT, eikōn (“image, representation”) is used to refer to human beings having been made in the image of God (Gen 1:26–27) and also to the wisdom figure in Jewish writings (see Wisdom 7:25–26). The NT writers speak about Christ as God’s wisdom to help explain his significance (cp. 1 Cor 1:24, 30). • He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation (or He is the firstborn of all creation): This phrase figured prominently in early Christian debates about the nature of Christ. Firstborn does not mean he was created; it is a title, drawn from the OT, indicating supremacy of rank and priority in time (see, e.g., Ps 89:27).

1:16 Thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world refer to various spiritual powers. This line emphasizes Christ’s supremacy over these beings who were getting so much attention from the false teachers (see 2:18). • Everything was created through him and for him: Christ is both the one through whom all things were created and the goal of all creation.

 New Living Translation Study Bible 

A – Jesus was God in the form of a man on earth.  He is supreme over all creation because all creation was through him.  This gives me faith to know the God I worship and serve has no rival – He alone is the one and only God.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the one true God.  You have no rival or equal.  I surrender my life and will to you today.  Empower me to walk with you and obey your direction.  Continue to reveal to me the areas of my life where I need to draw closer to you.

S – I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5 CSB

O – Commentary:

God’s call of Jeremiah as a prophet, though brief, contained a message designed to motivate him for his task. God revealed that His selection of Jeremiah as a prophet had occurred before he had even been formed … in the womb. The word knew (yāḏa‘) means far more than intellectual knowledge. It was used of the intimate relations experienced by a husband and wife (“lay,” Gen. 4:1) and conveyed the sense of a close personal relationship (“chosen,” Amos 3:2) and protection (“watches over,” Ps. 1:6). Before Jeremiah was conceived God had singled him out to be His spokesman to Israel.

Jeremiah had been set … apart for this ministry. The verb translated “set apart” (qāḏaš) means setting something or someone apart for a specific use. Individuals or objects “set apart” (or sanctified or made holy) for use by God included the Sabbath Day (Ex. 16:23; 20:8), the tabernacle and its furnishings (Ex. 29:44; 40:9), and the priests (Ex. 29:1; 30:30). God had marked Jeremiah from conception and reserved him for a special task. He was appointed to be a prophet to the nations

“Jeremiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – God knows each of us before we are even born.  He knows us, formed us, determined a purpose and gave us a message to share.  We are unique in the fulfillment of all of those.  It is amazing to see the strength of the body of Christ if every one of us were operating in all of those at the highest level.

R – Heavenly Father, we honor you alone as the one, true God.  We worship and surrender to you today.  Empower us to fulfill the purpose and will you have for us.  Please give us the courage to step toward you and that calling.  

S – My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. This is the Lord’s declaration. 

I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at my word.

Isaiah 66:2 CSB

O – God will look intently with pleasure on the person who values others, puts God’s plan above their own, and reveres God and his Word.

A – All three of these postures are doable every day.  It isn’t a debasing or thinking less of ourselves.  We should be confident in the gifts and purposes God has for us.  Yet, we should elevate the value of others, submit to God’s plan and walk in awe of Him.

R – Heavenly Father, you hold everything in your purpose and will today.  We stand in respect and awe of your infinite abilities.  Yet, you desire a true relationship with us.  Please help us to walk in humility, submission and reverence for you.

S – My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever. 

Psalms 73:26 CSB

O – Our human efforts and inner confidence may perish, but God is the refuge that lasts eternally.

A – Each day presents challenges on our walk with God.  We have strong, physical bodies and gifts and talents to tackle those difficulties.  There are days we fall short.  Yet, God empowers us physically and spiritually with his presence, hope and love to remain in the fight.  We may lose a battle but know that we win the overall war with God.

R – Heavenly Father, we honor you above everything else.  Empower us today to meet the challenges we face.  We invite your Holy Spirit to lead us in our thoughts, words and actions.  Please help us to think, speak and act confidently as we bring your love to others.

S – “Make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. ⁴ Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:2–4 CSB

O –  Commentary:

Paul exhorted his readers to show in practical ways the unity which was theirs in Christ. Their expression of that spiritual unity would make his joy complete. Corresponding to the four realities in verse 1 are four specific ways in which their spiritual unity would be realized. They would be like-minded, have the same love, be one in spirit (sympsychoi), and be one in purpose

  “Philippians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Unity is tremendously important as Christians.  That doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything.  But our thinking, hearts, beliefs and purposes should have a common center: Jesus.  We walk that out by not being “me” focused but having others as a priority.  

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  You alone are worthy of such honor.  Help us to prioritize others and display the love you give us to them in a tangible way.  Thank you, God that we get to do this journey with others and are not alone.

S – “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

 Philippians 1:21 CSB

O – Commentary:

Paul’s main purpose in living was to glorify Christ. Christ was the essence of his life. Yet Paul knew that if he were martyred, Christ would be glorified through the promotion of the gospel which would result from his testimony in death. And Paul himself would benefit, for death would result in his being with Christ (v. 23). The words to die suggest the act of dying, not the state of death.

 “Philippians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – Paul expresses a true freedom in life or his death.  We can walk in the same.  Our message is strong when Christ is central in our lives and reflects his character and love.  In our passing, we are present with the Lord.  It eliminates the fear of death and we know that our lives accomplish his purposes.

R – Heavenly Father, we honor you above all today.  We invite your Holy Spirit to help us walk in your love and purposes today.  We want to honor Christ in our lives.  Thank you for taking the fear of death away.  We can walk in confidence that you are with us.

S – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens

Ephesians 6:12 CSB

O – Commentary:

The struggle is not physical (against flesh and blood); it is a spiritual conflict against the spiritual “Mafia.” Though the ranks of satanic forces cannot be fully categorized, the first two (rulers and authorities) have already been mentioned in 1:21 and 3:10. Paul added the powers of this dark world (cf. 2:2; 4:18; 5:8) and the spiritual forces of evil. Their sphere of activity is in the heavenly realms, the fifth occurrence of this phrase, which is mentioned in the New Testament only in 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12. Satan, who is in the heavens (2:2) until he will be cast out in the middle of the Tribulation (Rev. 12:9–10), is trying to rob believers of the spiritual blessings God has given them (Eph. 1:3).

“Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures

A – We are in a battle every day.  We can look not only at what we see but also at the spiritual realm.  God gives us the tools and weapons to defeat the enemy and his forces.  We have the armor of God, God’s word and God himself (character, power, presence) to use as we engage in a spiritual battle daily.

R – Heavenly Father, you are the victorious God.  You have already won the war.  Help us today to win the battles we face physically and spiritually. We submit ourselves to your leadership and pick up the weapons you give us to remain victorious in our walk with you.

S – To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband. 

Ephesians 5:33 CSB

O – This is a summarization statement – Husbands love their wives and wives respect their husbands.

A – This is a great foundation for a marriage relationship.  A husband who loves his wife like Christ loved the church will give her unconditional, servant-based love.  He will esteem her more than any other woman.  A woman who respects her husband brings honor and reverence to him and his role of leading their home. She will esteem him more than any other man.  This requires work by both persons. 

R – Heavenly Father, we esteem you above all other things.  We pray over our marriages that we would start with ourselves in what we bring to the relationship.  Please help us to grow in our role set before us.  Help us to esteem our spouse higher than any other today.  We want to honor you in our marriage.

S – There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord. 

 Isaiah 48:22 CSB

O – How can we know his peace if we do not pursue Godly righteousness?  

A – Two of the greatest gifts we receive in a relationship with Christ are hope and peace.  In all situations, we can have both.  Hope that God can intervene supernaturally or even work in a situation for the good.  Peace that He’s got it no matter what we face.  Two good “bookends” to keep our hearts, minds and actions all pointed toward Him.

R – Heavenly Father, we honor you above all names.  Thank you for hope and peace in all that we will face today.  We trust in your love and sovereignty that you want the best in our lives.  Give us the courage to face today knowing you are with us and for us.