Rescued From the Dominion of Darkness

Date: October 23, 2023

I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional. 

B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Voice and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study the Key Words or Phrases
S - Summarize and Share

You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?

B - Bible Verse:  "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." Colossians 1:13

L - Listen for God's Word and pray:  Gracious Father, I'm overwhelmed by Your amazing grace. Thank You for rescuing me from the darkness of sin and bringing me into the kingdom of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Help me live daily as a faithful citizen of Your kingdom. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

E - Explore the History and Meaning:

The apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians while he was in prison. He addressed issues related to the preeminence of Christ and the completeness of salvation found in Him.  This verse talks about a profound transformation. It illustrates how God, through Jesus Christ, rescues believers from the dominion of darkness, which symbolizes sin, ignorance, and spiritual separation. God's act of redemption transfers us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, signifying our reconciliation, forgiveness, and citizenship in Christ's spiritual realm.

S - Study the Key Words or Phrases:

"Rescued": Emphasizes God's deliverance from spiritual bondage.

"Dominion of darkness": Represents the realm of sin, ignorance, and separation from God.

"Kingdom of the Son": Refers to Christ's spiritual kingdom where believers find redemption and reconciliation.

"Son he loves": Indicates God's deep affection for Jesus, who plays a central role in salvation.

S - Summarize and Share:

I want to take a minute to truly grasp the significance of this transformation. When we talk about leaving the darkness behind and embracing the radiant light of Christ's kingdom, we're talking about a profound change that goes beyond a simple shift from night to day. It's a change of heart, a change of purpose, and a change of identity.

Imagine the day when you first decided to follow Christ. For many, it was like emerging from a deep, dark cave into the full brilliance of the sun. The world suddenly looked different, clearer, and filled with purpose. In that moment, you realized that you were no longer captive to the things that held you back. You were no longer defined by your past mistakes or regrets. You were a child of the light, embraced by the boundless love and grace of Jesus.

Now, as children of the light, we carry that transformative power within us. It's not just a change in our personal circumstances; it's a change in how we interact with the world. We are called to live in such a way that our lives become a reflection of His love and grace to a world still covered in darkness.

Think about the people you encounter daily—a co-worker struggling with personal issues, the neighbor facing family problems, the friend searching for meaning in life. They may still be in that dark room, searching for a way out. But as children of the light, we have the privilege and responsibility to extend a helping hand, to share the hope we've found in Christ, and to be a beacon of His love.

So, let's not just celebrate being in the light all by ourselves, let's also carry it into the lives of those around us. Let's shine so brightly that others are drawn to the source of our light—Jesus Christ. Let our actions, our words, and our love be a testament to the transformative power of the kingdom we now belong to. In doing so, we fulfill our calling as children of the light, making a difference in a world that so desperately needs to see the radiance of Christ's love.

4 Bible Cross References:

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV): "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

John 3:16 (NIV): "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

1 Peter 2:9 (NIV): "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

Titus 3:5 (NIV): "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit."