May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 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. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Colossians 1 9-20)

In Christ's name and to his glory, dear friends: Most of the world is like the scene at Calvary. Very, very few recognize Jesus as the King of kings. Most are oblivious, ignoring, hating, taunting him. Nevertheless, there are some like Mary, John the Evangelist, the Roman soldier-these know the truth about Jesus. Paul too knows. He speaks worshipfully about him..."He...he...him...him...". Everything literally revolves around Jesus, depends on Jesus. Which are we? Are we as the crowds or as Mary, John, and Paul? Like these few, I pray. Like these few, by God's grace alone. So let us continue during these few minutes to honor "him" about whom Paul writes here. Moreover, let us see not only how wonderful "he" is, but also how this "Wonderful One" affects us. Let most ignore him. That will not change who "he" is, what "he" has done and still does for us. Today we see the WONDEFUL, EFFECTIVE, OFTEN UNNOTICED RULE OF OUR KING.

Let us take a few minutes to look closely at our Savior King as the inspired apostle writes of him. His many characteristics draw us to praise and honor him today and always. He is the image of the invisible God. God created Adam and Eve "in" his image. In other words, they shared some of his qualities; they were moral creatures that had a heart and life in line with God's will. This Jesus "is" the image of God. In other words, he shares all the qualities of God. When we see him, we see what is not normally visible to us-God himself. God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (v. 19). Jesus is God.

He is the firstborn over all creation. This does not mean, as the Jehovah Witnesses at your front door may tell you, first in time, as if God created Jesus. He is Creator-by him all things were created...all things were created by him and for him-so he cannot be created by the Father. He is firstborn in the sense of heir and ruler. God the Father has placed all things under the control of his eternal, unique, only-begotten, Son.

He rules all things for the good of his church, his family of believers. He is the head of the body, the church. This is where you and I come into this picture. This-that the King of kings rules for the good of his believers-makes this time spent pondering "him" more than just musing. He is Wonderful to look at; but he uses his wonder to effect us, to benefit us. Though others may be oblivious, ignore, hate or taunt him, we see and know. Moreover, we sense and notice how he has affected us. That makes this Wonder even more wonderful to us! So let us now glance from who "he" is to what he does for us.

Our God through his Son has used his mighty power to save us. Listen-- he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Every word is inspired and important.

He has rescued us. The word has the idea to pull someone away from danger by pulling him or her close to you. Picture Peter floundering in the water he had just been walking on, crying out to Jesus, and Jesus pulling him up into his arms. Satan has us. We are floundering in our sin and God's righteous anger over our sin-there is no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 57:21). However, our Jesus enters the scene and pulls us to himself.

He has brought us into the kingdom of his Son. God has picked us up and relocated us. Once we were with Satan, among sinners and unbelievers. But the Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit to us and he relocated us from the unbelieving world to the family of Christ.

In whom (Christ) we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Jesus paid a price-it was his own precious blood. That price freed us. Freed us from what? Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed (John 8:34, 35). Of course, if we do not believe we are sinners, this will mean nothing to us. But listening to conscience and God's own Word that tells us all have sinned, we know how much we need Christ's rescue, relocation, and redeeming. It is yours and it is mine. This is God's wonderful promise to us again today.

In addition, those he redeems, relocates to his family, and rescues he continues to effect with his gracious mighty power. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. ¹⁰ And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully ¹² giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. Christ uses his mighty power, channeled to us by the Word and Sacraments, to rule our hearts (knowledge)...to make us live as Christians (a life worthy of God)...and to keep us in faith (endurance and patience) until the day he takes us heaven.

How shall we apply this to ourselves today? Honor Christ for who he is this day-Christ the King, the image of God, the Creator. Praise him for how he uses his mighty power to affect you and me. Thank him and pray for this mighty, gracious working in yourself, your family, your church. Look to him to sustain you, give you patience and endurance until the day he transports you to heaven. Find him and his patient endurance regularly in the Word here at worship, at the altar, in your pondering the Word daily. Then every day and all eternity shall be under the rule of our wonderful King of kings.    Amen