April 13 Daily Devotional

Monthly Theme:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the beginning of a new life for all believers. It's also the pledge of our resurrection (1 Cor. 15). The study of Colossians is part of this month's meditations on the meaning of the resurrection.

Bible Reading:

Colossians 1 :9–14

Bible Text:

He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves (Col. 1:13).

Devotional:

The saving work of God involved two separate operations. First God rescued us from darkness, and then God transferred us into the kingdom of Christ. The rescue operation came first: God got us out of the cage. Then came the second operation: God resettled those who had been rescued.

Christians acknowledge this double work of Christ when they call him their Savior and Lord. He is our Savior because he rescued us from the old house, dominated by dark demons. He is our Lord because we are now under his blessed rule.

It is clear, then, that we cannot have Christ as our Savior unless he is Lord of our life. Christ does not leave us in the old house, nor does he leave us halfway between the old and the new. Only when he has transferred us to his own domain are we saved.

Although we do not yet possess the infinite riches of the kingdom of God, we are already under the kingship of Christ. The darkness of the old realm is passed. We have been transferred. And our obedience to the Lord is evidence of our salvation.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published in 1994. This edition is copyright by Faith Alive Christian Resources, from whom may be ordered Daylight, the predecessor of Twilight.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this edition of Twilight are from the New International Version

Be sure to read the "Preface" and the "Acknowledgments" by the author.