I came home later than usual from the church office last night. It was 6:00 pm and dark as I walked down our lane (just enough space for two cars if there are no motorbikes in the way - a rarity!) that has no street lights. I passed the last of a line of a dozen small stores and I was suddenly struck by light! I had been warned, but for the first time I saw our apartment building lit up with thousands of white Christmas lights - all strung across on the first two floors of the building. The light is almost blinding! Vietnamese do like light - lots of light! (You should see some of the massive karaoke signs in this city!)
This morning I opened my Bible to Colossians 1, and read again the marvellous words about Jesus Christ. They are almost blinding in the grand picture they paint. Who can possibly describe the greatness of Christ? Inspired by the Spirit, Paul tried his best. "He is the image of the invisible God ---. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, ---. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead ---. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him ---." 1:15 - 20
With Paul we say "I want to know Christ." Yet when I read the words of Colossians, I wonder have if I have even begun to know this Great One. With Job I say "How great is God - beyond our understanding!" Job 36:26 I think about the Christ described in Colossians and I fully feel the truth "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;" I Cor. 13:12
We do right to sing "How great is our God, sing with me, How great is our God!"We should read, sing and meditate on His greatness. We slowly comprehend a little of His Majesty (which of course involves the intellect but also the spirit, the emotions and a life of obedience and worship). But I suspect that as happened to me yesterday, as I moved through the dimness of our lane to the front of our building, we will one day be dazzled, overwhelmed with brightness; and it will be the awesome grandeur of our God and Saviour.
Enjoy the Christmas lights, but in this Season of the Incarnation, prepare yourself for a "sight far beyond our present comprehension."
This morning I opened my Bible to Colossians 1, and read again the marvellous words about Jesus Christ. They are almost blinding in the grand picture they paint. Who can possibly describe the greatness of Christ? Inspired by the Spirit, Paul tried his best. "He is the image of the invisible God ---. For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, ---. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead ---. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him ---." 1:15 - 20
With Paul we say "I want to know Christ." Yet when I read the words of Colossians, I wonder have if I have even begun to know this Great One. With Job I say "How great is God - beyond our understanding!" Job 36:26 I think about the Christ described in Colossians and I fully feel the truth "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror;" I Cor. 13:12
We do right to sing "How great is our God, sing with me, How great is our God!"We should read, sing and meditate on His greatness. We slowly comprehend a little of His Majesty (which of course involves the intellect but also the spirit, the emotions and a life of obedience and worship). But I suspect that as happened to me yesterday, as I moved through the dimness of our lane to the front of our building, we will one day be dazzled, overwhelmed with brightness; and it will be the awesome grandeur of our God and Saviour.
Enjoy the Christmas lights, but in this Season of the Incarnation, prepare yourself for a "sight far beyond our present comprehension."
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