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Colossians 1:15-17 - MERRY CHRISTMAS and LIVE FOR JESUS!!!

Colossians 1:15-17 (NLT) Christ is the 
visible image of the invisible God. He existed 
before anything was created and is supreme over all 
creation, for through him God created everything in 
the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the 
things we can see and the things we cant see - 
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and 
authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created 
through him and for him. He existed before anything 
else, and he holds all creation together.  

COMMENTARY PEARL

Christ Has Come
   He is the image of the invisible God.... 
For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in 
bodily form. Colossians 1:15; 2:9 NASB 
   Jesus Christ wasn't just a great 
religious teacher who walked on earth some two 
thousand years ago. The Bible says He was far more 
than that: He was God in human flesh. This is 
what we celebrate every Christmas - and this is 
what we should celebrate every day of our lives. 
The Bible tells us that on that first Christmas, 
God did something you and I can barely imagine: 
He came down from Heaven and became a man. 
   Do you want to know what God is like? 
Look at Jesus. The proof of His resurrection from 
the dead confirmed not only His victory over sin 
and death and Satan and Hell but also the truth 
of His divine nature. His teachings aren't just 
the musings of a profound philosopher or 
religious teacher; they are God's message to us. His 
deeds of mercy weren't just the actions of a 
particularly compassionate individual; they were a 
demonstration of God's love and concern for each one of 
us. Jesus gives us every reason to build our 
lives on Him. 
   Is it difficult to reconcile your images 
of God and Jesus? [Peace for Each Day by Billy 
Graham] 

COMMENTARY 

The First Christmas Story
   The first Christmas story begins with a 
tree, but not our kind of Christmas tree. This was 
the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in 
the Garden of Eden. 
   God had placed Adam and Eve in a literal 
paradise. Best of all, the Lord Himself showed up 
every day to take a walk with His friend Adam. God 
had given Adam and Eve only one restriction: 
Stay away from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good 
and Evil. 
   But by chapter 3 of Genesis, Adam and Eve 
are at the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and 
Evil. We know the rest of the story. Adam and Eve 
listened to the serpent and ate the forbidden fruit. 
And they lost their sweet fellowship with God. 
   Then we come to the first Christmas verse 
in the Bible, where God said to the serpent, 
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, 
and between your seed and her Seed; He shall 
bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel 
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV). 
   God was saying, There is One coming to 
destroy you, Devil. Hes going to crush you.  
   Therefore, the Christmas story doesnt 
start in Matthew or Luke. It starts in the Old 
Testament. Jesus has always been there. The Bible tells 
us, In the beginning was the Word, and the 
Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 
1:1 NKJV). 
   Before there was a world, before there 
were planets, before there was light and 
darkness, before there was matter, before there was 
anything but the Godhead, there was Jesus, coequal, 
coeternal, and coexistent with the Father and Holy 
Spirit. 
   He was with God. He was God. And then He 
became an embryo. He did not become identical to 
us, but He became identified with us. In fact, 
He could not have identified with us more 
closely than He did. [Greg Laurie from Harvest 
Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

CLOSING THOUGHT

   Question: What do Zacchaeus and the woman 
with the bleeding disorder have in common? They 
both got more of Jesus than they bargained for. 
Curious Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree just to 
get a glimpse of Jesus as He passed by. Jesus 
called to him and announced that He would be 
Zacchaeus' houseguest. That visit transformed the tax 
collector (Luke 19:1-10). 
   The desperate woman who had bled for 
twelve years simply wanted to touch Jesus's robe to 
be physically healed. But Jesus had more in 
mind. After she got what she thought she wanted 
most, Jesus drew her out of the crowd for a 
face-to-face conversation. She left that personal 
encounter spiritually healed as well (Luke 8:42-48). 
   Sometimes, I act like I only want a 
little bit of Jesus in my day too. Maybe a glimpse 
of Him in the background so I know He's got my 
back. Or I touch base with a quick prayer to start 
my day before running off to pursue my own 
agenda. Thankfully, Jesus gives me, too, more than I 
bargained for. 
   He knows what I truly need - not a chance 
encounter but an intentional relationship. I want Him 
to be in my thoughts every moment of every day, 
present in every conversation, decision, and 
interaction. That kind of closeness transforms my life. 
Since Jesus knows me intimately, I want to get to 
know Him better every day. Dianne Neal Matthews 
   Faith Step: Read through Psalm 139 slowly 
and prayerfully, thinking about how intimately 
Jesus knows and loves you. [Mornings With Jesus 
2023 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

Matthew 1:22, 23 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!

https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20221225-0932.html 

Luke 2:10-11 - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

https://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211225-0908.html 

Colossians 1:15-17 - JESUS the GOD-MAN.

https://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201224-0907.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/