TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8
Scripture: Colossians 1:19-24

Colossians 1:19-24 says, “For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,…” It is obvious that all the fullness of the Father was manifested in the Son. And His purpose was to reconcile us to Himself and make peace through the Blood of His Cross and that the alienation between God and man would come to an end. In this secure place we will be presented blameless and irreproachable in His sight so we would have faith before God. Even the apostle Paul says he rejoices in filling up in his flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of the Body, which is the church. Now there is a dimension of fullness that most people never recognize. God appoints some of us to walk a path which others do not understand in order to pioneer truth in our generation that will bless the Body and enhance the fullness of Christ. Criticism is the fruit of not discerning what God is doing in the lives of many leaders! Absalom and Ahithophel are examples of where criticism grew to include hostility, war and death. They warred against righteous David and God killed them! How many funerals are coming to the church over the same issue? Take heed because judgment first begins at the House of God!