As I study this, another thing that strikes me is God's sovereignty in our salvation. Some have asked why are some are saved and others not. Although I believe salvation is available to everyone not everyone takes advantage of it. But I will admit some have more advantage than others. Why? I don't know but I do know that God is in control. Notice the words 'delivered' and 'transferred'; these are words describing someone in control, someone with a purpose. So your salvation is not an accident. This then brings to mind, if your salvation was intended then what are you doing with this gift of salvation? Serve God likewise, with purpose.
We drift toward disobedience and call it freedom.
We cherish the indiscipline of lost self-control and call it relaxation.
We slouch toward prayerlessness and delude ourslves into thinking we have escaped legalism.
We Slide toward godlessness and convice ourselves we have been liberated.
The word today is 'transferred'. The NIV uses the word 'brought'. The King James uses 'translated'. All these words have the same basic meaning of getting us from one point to another. From a to b. We were in the 'domain of darkness' and now we are in His Kingdom. Notice we were not left to figure out how to get there. We were taken there. Notice we were not left to figure out what this means, He translated this for us. Is this way too cool or what? Celebrate God's provision!
Saturday - October 6, 2001
I was thinking about this verse and the next word 'us' and what that means. Notice that 'us' or 'we' are used three times in this verse. So it must be significant. The word is not 'anybody', 'everyone' or even 'for all'; it is not an all inclusive word but actually exclusive. As though 'us' is part of a club or exclusive group. I guess in part it is (God's Gang or Christ's Club). This 'us' I believe are for those that have accepted Christ as their one and only Savior; for those that have been redeemed. It is a common principle throughout the scriptures; if we follow God he will protect 'us from the domain of darkness.'
Now caution here! I'm not saying that this is not available to all, it is available. But unfortunately many do not take advantage of this offer. For example. I just got my oil changed in my car. I was offered an in-store credit card/account and by signing up I would receive $7 off all future oil changes. Now its my choice, its available to me but its not mine until I do something about it. The store wasn't just going to give me $7 off, I had to do something first. God's promises are the same, we must be obedient FIRST then comes his protection.
Friday - October 5, 2001
What strikes me about this verse is the third word. 'Delivered'. Think about it for a second. How does one deliver? For example the mailman delivers the mail by hand. It becomes personal. This means to me that 'He' (Christ) personall carried me from the domain of darkness. How great it is to have a God takes care of me personally!