"you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge (epignosis; recognition) in the image of its Creator. here there is no greek or jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, scythian, slave or free, but Messiah is all, and is in all."
-colossians 3.
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the letter to the colossians is a stunning text, filled to the brim with uncountable treasures and truths. i just unearthed one tonight that made me understand a little more what david might have felt when he cried in thanks to God, "oh, how my heart thrills at your Word!"
the passage explains that the old self has been removed. paul is even so bold as to say that WE have removed it. and now we have this new self - the one that is leaning on and healing in and growing towards, God. this self that is becoming whole.
and what is this renewing, actually? the word used in colossians literally means "recognition." it seems we are, in fact, growing in our ability to recognize our Creator.
i love this because the word "recognize" denotes a history. it hints at a past that we have lost sight of, forgotten. but something buried deep down within us is crying for us to remember our origins. "look!," it pleads, "look to the ancient paths! do you recall Him?" this remembering lives deep within our souls, and it is in all of us.
God's voice is forever calling us to remember and to recognize who we are, who we were created by.
and here amongst the believers there is no distinction save the fact that all of us, at one point or another, were graced the ability to RECOGNIZE the mighty and tender mercies of God.
Jesus has been with us from the beginning. He is all, and He is in all, forever and ever. amen.
oh, that we might have eyes to recognize!
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