July 28

Created by Him and For Him

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." Colossians 1:16

 Have you ever wondered what your purpose here on earth is? Why are we here and what are we to do with our lives? Where do we belong in the scheme of things? Colossians 1:16 gives us the answer and it is not complex. It is quite simply this: we were created "for him," that is for Jesus. His Father gave the word and Jesus created all things. Why? Because his Father wanted him to have all things. You and I were created for Christ Jesus, and our purpose in life can only be found in him! We were created for his pleasure; we were a gift to him from his Father. The reason so many people walk around life aimlessly is that they are missing what they were designed for. Life is not fulfilling when you are working at a job that doesn't fit you. There are people all over this earth who have lots of money and are successful in the eyes of the world, but are truly unhappy because they are unfulfilled. They are always looking for that missing something, which seems just beyond their grasp. There is no real meaning in their lives; no peace and no contentment, either. When we live a life we weren't designed to live, things fall apart: our marriages don't work right, our parenting is lacking, our jobs are frustrating, and our relationships are unfulfilling and nothing seems to go our way. It isn't until we realize that we were designed for Christ and we begin to live in him that the pieces begin to fall into place in our lives. Just as the earth was created to revolve around the sun, we were created to revolve around the One who made us, Jesus Christ. If we are living for ourselves and our own gratification, we are going to be completely out of sync with what we were designed for. If we are missing the meaning in our lives, it is because we are missing the One who gives our lives meaning, the very One for whom we were created. Revolve your life around Jesus and you will find true meaning in your life.

 Father, we thank you that you gave us the gift of life through your son, Jesus Christ; not once, but twice. First, when we breathed the breath of life and then when we were given new life in Christ Jesus. We thank you for his sacrifice on our behalf and that we might live and grow in him. We pray that you will help us to stop living our lives for ourselves and start living life for him for whom we were created. Help us to focus on him, that we might revolve around him and no other. May we fulfill the purpose for which we were created: to bring joy to our King! Amen.