I try to turn to Scripture every morning. There is something about the early mornings, Bible reading, and coffee that brings a peace and settledness over my soul.
No reading is ever the same. There isn’t any Scripture which cannot fall new and fresh. Perhaps it is why years ago I learned to pray and ask the Lord to speak to me through His Word.
And it still amazes me that He shows up each morning. Like yesterday as I read a most familiar passage, Colossisan 1:15-20. It was verse 17 which practically leapt off the page:
“He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
The AMPC words it this way: “And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together).”
It was the word “cohere” that had my attention. I loved that impression. We are parts being held together to make something larger.
The world and society seem to be in such chaos everywhere. So much is unsettled, unknown, unsure, and unstable.
Yet we need not be this way at all.
God holds our lives, our situations, our churches, and our communities together. We are all a part of something bigger, bigger than ourselves.
We always tend to read this verse, taking it to mean He is holding all creation together. And He is. But yesterday it fell so differently as I read the word ‘cohere’.
Our lives and situations are not random individual occurrences. We need to remember they all come together for a larger picture. And unfortunately, we don’t see the bigger picture, we see a small fragment. That’s what makes life so challenging – it requires faith and trust.
None of us like not seeing or knowing the big picture. I am not so sure we even like these opportunities which require faith and trust. BUT … when we see the results, we often say we are glad and would do it all over again.
Let’s exercise faith and trust today,
for we are are being held together by His design and purposes,
all for His glory.
In her post, 4 Lesser-Known Women of the Bible, Ashley Rowland reminds us that even a quieter and lesser known life can have a lasting impact. May we be faithful to the Lord even when we don’t see the influence our lives may be having on those around us.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
I am indeed being held together by my Lord in all ways, Joanne.
Thank you for this wonderful reminder & new perspective.
Blessings, Jennifer 😀
Joanne, it’s too easy just to run with that small fragment and think it’s the whole story.
I agree, it really is.
“ There isn’t any Scripture which cannot fall new and fresh.”
Truth!
And the try of this escapes us if we go rushing into and out of the presence of God.
I am amazed at how many times a portion feels like I have never read it before. We cannot skim over a verse and let familiarity rob us of new insights.
“Our lives and situations are not random individual occurrences. We need to remember they all come together for a larger picture.” Being a fiction reader, I remind myself if human authors can bring it all together in the end, God will certainly do it better!
Yes, that is so true. I need to remind myself that God has not yet revealed the last page.
Joanne, I love the way God shows up for us when we determine to sit in His Presence each day. What precious words for you, (and us!) which came from your reading, “Our lives and situations are not random individual occurrences. We need to remember they all come together for a larger picture. ” This is so true, yet easy to forget.
I try to remember as I follow Christ, He holds all thigs together for me, and around me not just so I am comfortable or do not need to fear, but also incorporating my life into the bigger [kingdom] picture He is creating!
What a blessing to be “held together by His design and purposes.”
In this time of great conflict, both in our country and throughout the world, it’s of utmost importance for us to trust our Lord and seek His guidance in all things. We need to each have a part in sharing His message of love with others.
We are all important to God’s plan; to the building of His kingdom, here and now. A wonderful message today, Joanne!
I so agree that “There isn’t any Scripture which cannot fall new and fresh.” No matter how many times we read it, there are always new or deeper insights to gain.
And it’s such a comfort to know that even when it looks like things are falling apart, God holds them together.
Joanne, it’s interesting that I read this just this morning because we had a guest speaker at church yesterday and he said much the same thing from other passages of Scripture. One point he made was how God brings the events of our lives together in one purposeful plan and that nothing is wasted. Thanks for sharing. The Word of God never loses its ability to thrill and excite us as God speaks to us through it!