Jesus, the Head of the Church
Scripture Reading — Colossians 2:6-12
In Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Colossians 2:10
The church is one body, and Jesus is the head of that body. Because Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death on a cross” to redeem his church, the Father “exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name” (Philippians 2:8-9). God also placed him above all spiritual authorities and strongholds as head of the church.
Jesus is the Savior of the church and its source of life. He came not to rule it with tyranny but to serve it with humility. He is the foundation, the builder, the owner, and the protector of the church.
Jesus loves the church with an everlasting, persevering, sacrificial, and sanctifying love.
And in his strength the church is preparing to present herself to him as a pure, holy, and glorious bride (Ephesians 5:27; Revelation 21:2).
Are you a part of this body, of which Christ is the head? If you believe in Christ, you are inescapably a member of his church. Don’t belittle the wonder of your membership. There are those who dismiss the church as a relic of past history. They think new forms of spirituality have made the church of Christ obsolete. Don’t believe it! The church is Christ’s body on earth today—his hands and feet to a world in need.
Holy God, I belong wholly to you, in body and soul. What a comfort to know that Christ loves and protects me. Help me to serve as part of his body. Amen.
About the author — Hernandes Lopes
Hernandes became the Portuguese ministry leader for Today's sister Portuguese ministry in 2010. He also serves as the director of the organization Luz Para o Caminho (Light for the Way), an organization formed in partnership between ReFrame and the Presbyterian
Church of Brazil. Hernandes has authored more than 160 books and is a popular and respected conference speaker in Brazil. Hernandes graduated from Seminário Presbiteriano do Sul in Brazil and earned a Doctorate of Ministry from Reformed Theological Seminary in
Jackson, MS.
Hernandes and his wife, Tinha, have two adult children.
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