Colossians 1:13-14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

With these Pauline sentences, it’s hard to pull out just one thought from a passage! This letter seems to have been written to a group Paul didn’t know personally, in sharp contrast to Philippians, but he had enough confidence in Epaphras to feel sure that they had a firm foundation in their faith. This letter isn’t just “spiritual pablum,” but rather clear teaching in theology and Christian living. The section just ahead of this verse deals with the Christian living side of that, and is both deep and firm, and the section right after this deals with Christology, the part of theology that deals with just who and what Jesus is. That’s deep enough that it makes up a good chunk of any Systematic Theology class in seminary! Then we have these verses, that connect those two areas. They express what God has done for us in Jesus, enabling us to live the way Paul had been talking about just before this. If God hadn’t taken us out of the power of darkness, we would be totally helpless against all the devil’s schemes. However, in Christ we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and we are no longer in the devil’s domain, but in Christ’s. That’s something to get really happy about!

As an American citizen, born, raised, and living in Japan, I have always had more understanding of citizenship than the average person, I think. Even so, God has had to point out to me that since I no longer belong to “the dark side,” I don’t have to act like I do. I in turn have shared that insight with many people, and they too have been liberated from the lies of the enemy. It’s not that Christians don’t need to obey the laws of civil society, but rather that we are freed from the spiritual chains the devil would put on us. Many years ago I worked with hypnotism, and I know from experience that if you make a person believe  they are bound up, they are as immobilized as if they were in a strait jacket. That’s what the devil does to people, and I am to proclaim to them in love the truth that can set them free, if they will receive it. (John 8:32) It isn’t automatic that they will, but I am to support and encourage them in prayer, remembering that nothing is impossible for God.

Father, thank You for this reminder. I pray for spiritual hunger in those I interact with, that they may devour the truth I share with them and so repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!