The Best Evidence of God’s Love

He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

–Colossians 1:13–14

When we know God’s will and obey His commands, we experience His power. And when we’re strengthened with supernatural power, we’re able to “joyously [give] thanks” no matter our circumstances (Colossians 1:11–12). How can we give God thanks when we’re going through difficulty? How do we know He loves us and hasn’t turned His back on us?

Paul gave us three proofs of God’s love for us. First of all, the apostle said God “qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light” (v. 12). By nature, you and I are disqualified from sharing in God’s riches because we’re not born into God’s family. But God made us His heirs.

Second, God also “rescued us from the domain of darkness” (v. 13). Much of the evil in this world has been diluted by God and His people. However, those who die without Jesus Christ are going to be separated from God and His people for all eternity. In hell, there will be no godly influence–only unrelenting, unending evil. That is the darkness God rescued us from.

Finally, God “transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption” (vv. 13–14). The word “redemption” refers to transferring captives from one kingdom to another. I think about the scene in January 1981 when fifty-two American hostages arrived at a US Air Force base after more than a year of captivity in Iran. For 444 days, they had been subjected to isolation and mistreatment. As they stepped off the plane, on the door was a sign that read “Welcome Back to Freedom.” Were they really “back to freedom”? Even in the United States, they weren’t free to do whatever they wanted to do. But I bet those hostages preferred to live under the laws of the United States rather than under the domain of their captors.

Friend, it is the same for us. The Bible says when God rescued us, He did not free us to live however we want to live. He transferred us to the kingdom of His Son, Jesus Christ. Paul wrote, “Do you not know . . . that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). You and I are slaves of Jesus Christ, and we have an obligation to live under His authority. But isn’t it much easier to live under the authority of someone who loves you than someone who wants to destroy you? No matter what difficulty you’re facing, you can be sure that Christ, your King, loves you because He redeemed you with His own blood.

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Today’s devotion is adapted from “The Perfect Prayer” by Dr. Robert Jeffress, 2011.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.lockman.org.