Hear the devotional here: https://anchor.fm/eradio-valverde/episodes/Who-Is-Jesus-Really-e1qpdaa
Watch it on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eradiovalverde/video/7166096277820902702?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en
11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is 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. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:11-20 New Revised Standard Version Bible)
Happy Tuesday, dear Friend! I pray this finds you well and blessed, enjoying the power of prayer alive in your life. And as you pray, please remember that our brother Mr. Jorge Saenz, of San Antonio, is having cancer surgery. May God bless Jorge with a victory, the safe removal of all things bad in his body, and limited treatment after surgery and a wonderfully blessed recovery. Please pray for all who have asked prayers of us, prayers for your pastor(s), your church and your loved ones. May this time be a time of blessing for all our spiritual needs.
The Chosen, an app-based series, will have their newest season premiere in movie theaters. Episodes 1 and 2 will play in theaters across the country. I have been blessed by the series thus far and anxiously await the new season. Yes, even more than Yellowstone! (I can see some of you shaking your heads!). The desire of humanity has been to know more about Jesus, a sort of behind the scenes look at who was this extraordinary man? A quick search on Amazon.com with just the word Jesus typed in resulted in 20 pages of items on Jesus. Books with the name Jesus in them, showed more than 75 pages with about 23 books on each page. And those are just the books in print. Paul shares what he knows about Jesus in this passage. He also does in almost every page of every letter he wrote to each church; but here we get an understanding of what we should know about our Savior and Lord.
We first hear Paul encouraging all believers to receive and hold on to the strength and power that is available to us, that will help us endure all things that may come our way, while still giving thanks to God the Father. Paul also credits God for allowing us "to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light." God was He who rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son.
The Son (Jesus) is He in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. I love the word redemption for it reminds me of when Nellie and I were first married, we were on a very sparse budget. We tried to shop on Wednesday which was double-stamp day in the world of S&H Green Stamps. Grocery stores had made arrangements with S&H and some others, to give stamps based on what was spend each time in their stores. The stores would also give coupon books in which to store those stamps and in McAllen there was a redemption store where one could go in and trade the book of stamps for needed items like can openers, knives, etc. The stamps were redeemed for merchandise; true redemption Christ was His giving of Himself (body and blood) for our lives, and the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus was also the image of the invisible God ("If you have seen me, you have seen the Father" - Jesus said to His disciples). Jesus was the firstborn of all creation; and in Him were all things in heaven and earth created in Him. Yes, things visible and invisible, even thrones or dominions or rulers or powers -"All things have been created through Him and for Him. Jesus Himself is before all things, and in Jesus, all things hold together. Jesus is the head of the body, the Church. Jesus is the beginning, the firstborn of the dead, so that He may come to have first place in everything. In Jesus all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him God was pleased to reconcile to Himself all things, on earth and in heaven through His having made peace through His blood on the Cross.
The matter dear one, is how well we know and love Him. We can read all the books written about Him and still not know Him in the least. One of the great stories I heard once about this was at a lecture at a big name university, where an invited professor of Church History was presenting a talk on Jesus, and in the front row was one of the school's custodians who listened intently but soon discovered the lecturer was presenting more of the why's and little of the Who behind Jesus. When it was time for question and answer, the custodian raised his hand and then showed him the apple he had from his lunchbox. "This apple," he asked, "Is it sweet or tart?" The professor said he did not know, and could not know unless he tasted it. "Exactly the thing I found missing in your presentation. We do not really know Jesus unless we have tasted Him and proved Him as the Bible has shared Him with us."
May we use this lesson to come to know that Jesus loves us and cares for us so much, He was willing to die for us. Psalm 34:8 challenges us "Taste and see that the Lord is good."
PRAYER: Good Father, and loving God, allow all of us to taste and see that Your Son is good, and may that make all the difference in our lives; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Show the world that you have tasted the Lord's goodness in your life!
Receive my blessings of love and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
