A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Qualified!"

Yet another letter arrives with the bold letters on the outside of the envelop announcing we are pre-approved for an amazing offer waiting inside. All we need to do is fill out the enclosed application and send it in to see if we qualify. Chances are we don’t.

We are very familiar with the need to be qualified. Seeking employment? What are your qualifications? Seeking to make a large purchase? Are you qualified for the credit that you need to make the purchase? Seeking to become a member of an organization? Do you meet the qualifications for membership? A recent Television commercial parades several young people across the screen each telling how they had been rejected by an online dating service. They did not meet the qualifications to be a member. We even have tests that can be taken to discover our qualifications.

Living within such an atmosphere we are taken back when we read; …giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:12) Qualified? We are qualified? How can any of us be qualified to live and participate with the saints in God’s Kingdom? For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought is into the kingdom of the Son He loves in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14)

The imagery in these verses is powerful. In Christ we are qualified. The term used here denotes being made sufficient, made complete! And the tense reveals it is a done deal! We don’t work to become qualified. We don’t take a test to prove we are qualified – we’d fail anyway. We don’t even have to fill out an application. We call out to God and receive God’s forgiveness in Christ. We are then redeemed and thereby qualify for His Kingdom.

Being qualified we are relocated, rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into His Kingdom. The word used here for “brought” is the term that is used in the secular literature of that time for removing a person from one country and settling them in another. We are rescued [liberated, delivered] from the dominion of darkness and brought [relocated] into The Kingdom – The Kingdom of Light – The Kingdom where Christ Reigns! This is a present reality in Christ! By grace through faith we are rescued, qualified and relocated. In His Kingdom, the Kingdom of Light, we live a life worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge if God being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so we have great endurance and patience, joyfully giving thanks for the Father. (Colossians 1:10-12)

Beloved, let us rejoice that in Christ we are qualified and let us live in such a way that our lives testify of our citizenship in His Kingdom!

Keep Close to Jesus.
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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