God’s grace is immeasurable, His mercy inexhaustible, His peace inexpressible.

上帝的恩典无法估量，祂的怜悯无穷无尽，祂的平安无法言喻。

For by [Jesus] all things were created. Colossians 1:16 

As we drove through northern Michigan, Marlene exclaimed, “It’s unbelievable how big the world is!” She made her comment as we passed a sign marking the 45th parallel—the point halfway between the equator and the North Pole. We talked about how small we are and how vast our world is. Yet, compared to the size of the universe, our tiny planet is only a speck of dust.

当我们开车穿越密西根州北边时，经过一个标志，上面标示着北纬45度线，也就是位于赤道和北极的中间，玛琳惊呼：“这个世界这么大，真令人难以置信！”接着，我们谈到人类如此渺小，而世界如此浩淼。然而，与整个宇宙相比，我们这小小的地球也只不过像微尘一般。

If our world is great, and the universe is vastly greater, how big is the One who powerfully created it? The Bible tells us, “For by [Jesus] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him” (Col. 1:16 ).

如果我们的世界很大，而宇宙又更大，那创造一切的上帝有多大呢？圣经告诉我们：“因为万有都是靠[耶稣]造的，无论是天上的、地上的、能看见的、不能看见的，或是有位的、主治的、执政的、掌权的，一概都是藉著祂造的，又是为祂造的。”（歌罗西书1章16节）

This is good news because this same Jesus who created the universe is the One who has come to rescue us from our sin for every day and forever. The night before He died, Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 ).

这是个好消息，因为这位创造宇宙的耶稣，就是天天拯救我们、永远都拯救我们脱离罪的救赎主。在耶稣受死之前的那天晚上，祂告诉门徒说：“我将这些事告诉你们，是要叫你们在我里面有平安。在世上你们有苦难，但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。”（约翰福音16章33节）

When facing the large and small challenges of life, we call on the One who made the universe, died and rose again, and won victory over this world’s brokenness. In our times of struggle, He powerfully offers us His peace.

我们在面对生活中大大小小的挑战时，可以求告耶稣，祂创造宇宙、死而复活，并胜过这个世界的败坏和痛苦。当我们面对苦难时，祂就赐下平安给我们。

Colossians 1:12-17New International Version (NIV)

12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption,the forgiveness of sins.

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

歌罗西书 1:12-17Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

12 又感谢父，叫我们能与众圣徒在光明中同得基业。 13 他救了我们脱离黑暗的权势，把我们迁到他爱子的国里； 14 我们在爱子里得蒙救赎，罪过得以赦免。

15 爱子是那不能看见之神的像，是首生的，在一切被造的以先。 16 因为万有都是靠他造的，无论是天上的、地上的，能看见的、不能看见的，或是有位的、主治的、执政的、掌权的，一概都是借着他造的，又是为他造的。 17 他在万有之先，万有也靠他而立。

Lord, I’m grateful that You are greater than my mind could ever comprehend. Help me to trust You today.

 主，我感谢祢，祢大过我心所能领会的。
今日，求祢帮助我完全信靠祢。

INSIGHT

In Colossians Paul combats false teaching that seems to have included both Jewish asceticism (severe self-discipline) and the idea that the material world is bad and we are saved by avoiding it (see 2:16–23)—ideas similar to what would later be known as Gnosticism. Paul argued that the teachers of such “idle notions” (2:18), despite appearing wise (v. 23), were missing the point entirely. By focusing on their own ideas and rules (vv. 18, 22), they were missing Christ—the One through whom everything holds together (v. 19).

Colossians 1:15–17, often believed to be a Christian hymn, beautifully reinforces the truth that the gospel includes hope for the material world, God’s good creation. Because Jesus is the One who holds creation together (vv. 17–18), He restores not only harmony between people and God but between the creation and God (v. 20). Believers, as those living in His kingdom (vv. 12–14), can experience a taste of this renewed creation, even as we long for the final restoration.

How might Colossians 1:12–17 give us hope that God cares about and is involved with the particular areas of brokenness in our lives and world?

Monica Brands

灵粮透视

保罗在歌罗西书反驳错谬的教导，这些教导包括犹太人的禁欲主义（严格的自律），以及认为物质世界是败坏的，我们必须 避开才能得救的看法（参阅2章16-23节）。这些观念类似后来为人所知的诺斯底主义，保罗认为，有些教师传讲这些空洞的观念（2章18节），虽然看起来很有智慧（23节），但实际上却毫无意义。他们注重自己的观念和规条（18、22节），但却忽略了那位联络万有的主基督（19节）。

歌罗西书1章15-17节常被视为基督徒的赞美诗，其中非常巧妙地强调了一个真理，即福音所谈到的盼望，也包含了上帝美好的创造——物质世界。因为耶稣是联络万有的主（17-18节），祂不仅恢复人与上帝之间的和谐关系，而且要恢复受造物与上帝之间的和谐关系（20节）。我们这些在上帝国度里的信徒（12-14节），尽管我们还在盼望最终的完全恢复，现在却可以品尝这种更新的滋味。

歌罗西书1章12-17节如何帮助我们明白上帝眷顾我们，了解我们生活的破碎和世界的败坏，从而让我们得着盼望呢？

整理：于姊妹