But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,  
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, 
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me 
The One to be Ruler in Israel, 
Whose goings forth are from of old,  
From everlasting.  

Micah 5:2 

Christ is eternal. He became a member of humanity at a certain point in human history, however, He existed as the essential, eternal Son of God well before His incarnation. Our text touches on this subject. Micah, the prophet, addresses Bethlehem, the city of Judah where Christ would be born. Micah declares that in spite of Bethlehem’s smallness in relation to the other, more impressive places in Judah, out of her would come the long-awaited Messiah, the King of Israel. This is the prophecy that points directly to Christ, His incarnation, and His birthplace. Micah goes on to add, ‘Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.’ Micah understood that the eternal God was going to appear in due course of time. He was certainly not the only prophet who understood the incarnation. Isaiah had said, ‘Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.’ To that he added, ‘For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ From these passages, and others, we understand that Christ, the eternal God, has come in the flesh. It is most important for us to be clear about His eternity. We are consistently making much of Christ because He is the utterly unique individual Who, being God, has become truly human to accomplish redemption. Because we understand this we make much of Him Who is from everlasting.  

Our Great and Gracious God, 
we rejoice in Your Eternal Son. 
We praise You that in due course of time, 
You have sent Him forth for us. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 

Colossians 1:16 

What is the purpose of creation? Our text states that Christ created all things. It goes on to detail what that means by speaking of all the things that are in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, including kings, rulers, kingdoms and authorities. The final statement of our text declares ‘All things were created through Him and for Him.’ Logically then, Christ created all things for Himself. This has the broadest of ramifications. The universe exists for Christ. The galaxy exists for Christ. The world exists for Christ. The nations exist for Christ. All people exist for Christ. We exist for Christ. Once we have grasped this truth a host of other things fall into place. What Christ has created, He controls. This includes all that has occurred in all history, in all places, under all circumstances and conditions for all time from beginning to end. We cannot begin to comprehend how that can be. It raises questions in our mind because of some of the things that have occurred in history and are yet occurring. Yet all things were created through Him and for Him. The question regularly arises, do we have faith in Him? Do we believe He has done all things well? Beyond that, are we satisfied and content that He has indeed created us for Himself? 

Our Glorious, Creating God, 
we rejoice at what You have done. 
We praise You that You have given us faith to believe 
that You have indeed done all things well. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him 

Colossians 1:16 

Christ is King of kings and Lord of Lords. All those who are kings and rulers in the world are there by His creation. Our text begins with the widest scope of creation, of all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible; then narrows down to thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers. We tend to look at kings or rulers and think they have ascended to their places by their own means. Our text tells us how they got there. Other passages support the fact that Christ creates rulers and puts them in their places. Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.’ Earlier in the book of Daniel, Daniel had said, ‘He removes kings and raises up kings.’ Paul remarks, ‘Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.’ These are a few of many references which we could set forth that support the fact that Christ has created all things down to the very people in positions of power. This is particularly important for us to understand especially when the people in authority are not good people and are not ruling well. Daniel served the Babylonians. Christ grew up, lived and died in the days of the Roman Empire. Beyond anything else that is going on, or whoever is in power, God is still in control.  

High King of heaven, 
we rejoice that You rule over all. 
We praise You that the powers that are, 
hold their place because of You. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 

Colossians 1:16 

Creation is a fact. It is a fact for which we need not fear to stand. Nor do we need to feel it necessary to go to great lengths to attempt to scientifically prove it in the face of those who deny it. Our belief in creation depends upon God and His Word. The Scriptures begin ‘in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.’ If we begin there, believing that God is, that He has revealed Himself and that He has revealed Himself in creation, we have begun with faith. We believe that God is and that He is a rewarder of those, who diligently seek Him. Thus our belief in creation begins with our belief in God and in the revelations of His word, the first of which is that He has created the earth and what is in the heavens. While there is nothing intrinsically wrong with marshaling proofs for creation from science, a person without faith will dismiss those proofs. We are not fazed by what anyone uses to seek to disprove creation because it is a matter of faith. From the first verse through the entire Bible creation is declared as a matter of fact. According to Peter, to deny creation is a matter of willful ignorance, ‘For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water.’ Our text goes so far as to affirm creation, and to declare that Christ is the Creator. Therefore when we speak of Him, we speak of the One who made us.  

Great God of wonders, 
we rejoice that You have created all things. 
We praise You that You have made us 
part of that creation.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.  

Psalm 43:5  

In the course of life we may often find ourselves cast down. Because it does occur to many of us as a practical reality, we have reason to ask ourselves, ‘Why are you cast down, O my soul?’ In the case of the psalmist it was ‘an ungodly nation’ and ‘deceitful, unjust’ men. They were oppressive to this man and by logical inference, his people. Thus, he was cast down with good reason. Having said that, there are others in the Scripture who were cast down with good reason. Moses was cast down because of the contrariness of the children of Israel in the wilderness. David was cast down because of the murderous campaign of Saul against him. Elijah was cast down because of his physical tiredness as well as mental and spiritual exhaustion. These are a few instances of many. We want to recognize that to be cast down of soul is a common human experience from which followers of Christ are not exempt. Faith in Christ does not mean we will not experience hours of darkness. If we do experience them we are not less than truly spiritual. Many who have trusted in Christ have been cast down. We are not alone.    

Our Gracious Master and our God,  
we praise You that You have partaken in our humanity,  
and that you understand us.  
In our darkest hours, we hope in You. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning