February 15, 2021 Our Daily Bread Devotional : Topic – Spitting Image

By | February 15, 2021

February 15, 2021 Our Daily Bread Devotional : Topic – Spitting Image

Read previous Our Daily Bread Devotionals here

Bible in a Year:

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation : Colossians 1:15

Today’s Scripture: Colossians 1:15–23(NIV)

Insight

In Colossians 1:15–23, Paul affirms the deity and the supremacy of Christ over all creation. Man is created “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27), but Jesus “is the image [Greek eikōn] of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15). Eikōn carries the meaning of “portrait” or “exact likeness,” which is how the New Living Translation renders it in 2 Corinthians 4:4. The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus as “the exact representation of [God’s] being” (Hebrews 1:3); “the Son . . . expresses the very character of God” (nlt). The apostle John says Jesus “has made [God] known” (John 1:18); “has revealed God to us” (nlt). Jesus Himself says, “I and the Father are one. . . . Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (10:30; 14:9).

Message : During an outing, we met a woman who had known my husband’s family since he was a child. She looked from Alan to our son, Xavier. “He’s the spitting image of his daddy,” she said. “Those eyes. That smile. Yep. Looks just like him.” As the woman delighted in acknowledging such a strong resemblance between father and son, she even noted similarities in their personalities. Still, though they are alike in many ways, my son doesn’t reflect his father perfectly.

There’s only one Son—Jesus—who reflects His Father completely. Christ is the “image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). In Him and through Him and for Him all things were created (v. 16). “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (v. 17).

We can spend time in prayer and Bible study, discovering the Father’s character by looking at Jesus—God in the flesh. He invites us to witness His love in action by examining how He interacts with others in Scripture and in our day-to-day living. After surrendering our lives to Christ and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, we can grow in knowing and trusting our loving Father. He transforms us to reflect His character, so we can live for Him.

What a joy it would be if others could say we look just like Jesus!

By:  Xochitl Dixon

Reflect & Pray

What character trait of Jesus have you seen cultivated in your life over the last year? What trait would you like to cultivate in the coming year?

Jesus, please help me know You more as You make me more like You!

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