“A collection of 100 daily meditations on Paul’s letter to the Colossians designed to deepen one’s knowledge and enjoyment of the glory and greatness of Christ” by Dr. Sam Storms the president of Enjoying God Ministries.
I have found this book to be one of the few devotional books that actually delved into the biblical text in a meaningful way. Storms offers up a book of meditations that is not quite a commentary, but is far more than the simplistic “this is how the text made me feel” kind of devotional that fills the shelves of most Christian bookstores. Each meditation is written in a very clear and simple style and can be read in five to ten minutes. If you decide to read this book please contact me as soon as you get to chapter 49: Why I am a Baptist. In this chapter Storms tries to lay out different Christian teachings on baptism. As a Baptist he gets it wrong. I would be glad to sit down with you and and help you get it right. But overall I would have to say that this book has been one of the most challenging, inspiring, and Christ centered books I have read in a long time. You will learn a lot about the book of Colossians, the Cross of Christ, and how the Gospel can shape your life.
You can order the book, download the Introduction and Chapters 1-7 in PDF format, and preview each chapter (yes you can literally try before you buy!) by clicking HERE.
You can listen to an interview with Dr. Storms about The Hope of Glory and the nature of meditation in streaming audio format by clicking HERE.
+++
Here is a brief excerpt from chapter twenty three in which Storms discusses the ancient hymn to Christ imbedded in Colossians 1:15-17.
+++
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (16) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things were created through him and for him. (17) And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (19) For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, (20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15-20
Here’s my point. Jesus Christ is all of these in relation to the whole of the universe. He is the architect. This is what Paul means in Colossians 1:16a when he says that all things were created “in” him. He is the artisan. He is the one in whose eternal mind the blueprints for every nook and cranny of the cosmos were conceived.
And Paul is pretty specific about the extent of Christ’s creative input. It encompasses literally everything: “all things” (v. 16a), by which he means everything “in heaven and on earth,” be they massive galaxies billions of light years away or the dust mites beneath your feet. The “all things” include what you can see and can’t see, whether visible but intangible, like a mirage or beam of light; whether invisible but tangible, like a summer breeze or the heat of the sun; whether visible and tangible, like an oak tree or a book or a baseball; even
things invisible and intangible like a proton or gravity or a feeling or a dream. He conceived them all
But it doesn’t stop there. He is the architect of every spiritual being, here described as “thrones” and “dominions” and “rulers” and “authorities,” typical Pauline language for every conceivable variety of angel, both good and evil, both hellish and holy. They were all Christ’s idea.
He is not only the architect who conceived their existence and their manifold properties and powers, he is the artisan who actually constructed their being. They were made through him, says Paul (v. 16b). John echoed this thought by saying that “all things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).
Yes, he is both architect and artisan, as well as the aim for which they were created. As Paul put it, “all things were created . . . for him” (v. 16c; oh blessed preposition). Whatever is, is, that he might be glorified and praised and enjoyed forever. He is the reason, the goal, the aim, the intent, the point, the purpose, the end, the terminus, the consummation and culmination of every molecule that moves.
This year the youth of Peace Lutheran Church, their families, and friends donated three large shopping carts of paper plates, disposable cups/plastic silverware, paper towels/napkins, laundry detergent, dishwashing soap, diapers/baby wipes, cleaning supplies, bathroom tissue. In addition to the paper supplies we raised over $250 in donations that will enable us to provide two nights of food, shelter and care for twenty homeless women and children.
, page 18-19