Day 1: Knowing Christ

Begin

Quiet your heart and ask God to take all your worries and distractions, trusting him to teach and encourage you through his Word. Pray and ask him to open your eyes to the lessons he has for you today!

Read: Colossians 1:15–20

Reflect

Before we can fully know ourselves, we must know the One who made us. In Colossians 1, we read a beautiful description of Jesus—the image of the invisible God. Our Creator chose to reveal himself through his Son, who took on flesh to become our perfect Savior.

Knowing Christ and understanding that we need the reconciliation he offers becomes the first step in our journey to claiming our identity in him. The Bible tells us that Jesus was born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem, but Paul begins this letter by reminding us of the majesty of our Savior. Through Jesus, all things were created, and through him, all things hold together. Our existence depends on him, and he is our only reliable source of purpose and identity.

No matter the circumstances we face in life, we can trust that our lives are in the hands of the one who made all things. God loves us as our Creator, and he made a way for us to become his children through Christ (1 John 3:1). We can rest in the truth that this will never change, as Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

In this passage, Jesus is also described as the head of the church. His redemptive work brings together different identities—all nations, tribes, and tongues—and makes us part of a new family of believers. We experience reconciliation not only with God but with each other—something we could never accomplish on our own!

If we are in Christ, we have the hope of eternal life through him and can encourage one another in our walk of faith. The Bible tells us that Jesus took on flesh and experienced our sorrows (John 1:14; Isaiah 53:4). His perfect life means that we are no longer defined by our sin and failures. Instead, we are now identified as righteous in him (2 Corinthians 5:21). We are forgiven and empowered with a new purpose as members of Christ’s body. Finally, this passage ends with the truth that our peace with God depends fully on our relationship with Jesus. There is nothing we can add to our salvation.

There is no way we could create a more perfect identity than the one Christ has won for us. We are God’s beloved children, and we can rest in being fully known and loved by our Heavenly Father. We can also depend on Jesus to help us reflect his redemptive work in our own lives by sacrificially loving those around us. In this way, we help others see that our identity—rooted and secure in Christ—can be theirs, too!

Consider

• Where have you found your identity in the past? Did you seek to define yourself by family, career, generosity, talents, or service? In what ways did these aspects of your life fall short of being your ultimate purpose?
• Where do you find your identity today? Are you resting in Christ, or do you get distracted by other things that promise worth and purpose?
• Reflect on the Scripture you read today. How can God’s Word help you refocus your heart and life in your ultimate identity as a beloved daughter of God?

Meditate

Spend a few moments reading and considering how this Scripture relates to the other truths you encountered today. What connections can you make?

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ‘He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’ For ‘you were like sheep going astray,’ but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

1 Peter 2:21–25 GNT