And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Colossians 1:21-23)

We were once alienated—hostile in mind and doing evil deeds. This isn’t just a theological label—it’s a mirror to our natural state. Sin doesn’t just separate us from God because He’s holy; it separates us because we want the distance. We hide, justify, numb, and self-soothe, trying to feel “good enough.” But feeling better in ourselves doesn’t save us. We could never reconcile ourselves to God. He had to be the one to initiate, to act, to reconcile us to Himself.

But God’s goal wasn’t just to buy us a ticket to heaven. His aim is far more personal and transformational: to present us holy, blameless, and above reproach before Him. That’s a process of sanctification—not just a moment of salvation. And it hinges on faith, not just once believed, but continually lived out. “If indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel…”

This is an abiding obedience—not striving to earn, but trusting to receive. We can’t hinder His desire for us and expect to see His fullness in us. But when we walk in that faith, allowing Him to shape and sanctify us, we align with His desire to make us holy in His sight.

Paul’s words here reflect his role as a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:20)—not just introducing people to the gospel, but urging us to continue in it. Reconciliation isn’t just the beginning of salvation—it’s the very substance of it. So we continue, stable and steadfast, not surprised by trials (1 Peter 4:12–13), but rooted in hope.

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:16-20)

“For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things… making peace by the blood of His cross.”

Sin separated us so deeply from God that reconciliation wasn’t just unlikely—it was impossible on our end. We wouldn’t have tried. We couldn’t have succeeded. But God, rich in mercy and moved by love, didn’t wait for us to come to Him. He came to us.

The fullness of God dwelled in Jesus—God in the flesh, our Creator stepping into creation. The image, in which we were made, took on our form to redeem and reconcile us to Himself. His blood fully atoned for our sin and made peace with God on our behalf. All that’s left is for us to receive the gift.

But that reconciliation doesn’t stop at the vertical. It extends horizontally—to one another. If no sin was too big to keep us from God’s love, then no offense should be too great to keep us from forgiving each other. Christ not only reconciles us to Himself, He empowers us to become ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18–21). As far as it depends on us, we are called to live at peace with everyone (Rom. 12:18), forgiving as we have been forgiven (Matt. 6:12).

In Christ, nothing is beyond reconciliation. Nothing.

By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:5b-6)

That begged the question – what are the practical things, those measurable goals, of walking like Jesus did? And I sought to summarize it as a help in wrapping my mind around it practically. In light of this week being Thanksgiving, I thought we’d take a little detour this week to dig into this (including the fact that Jesus was a grateful person). Here’s what I gathered:

• Jesus walked in perfect obedience to the Father, doing nothing of His own will but only what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19)
• Jesus humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:5–8)
• Jesus was moved with compassion toward the broken, healing the sick, feeding the hungry (Mark 6:34)
• Jesus forgave those who sinned against Him (Luke 23:34)
• Jesus spoke truth with grace (John 1:14)
• Jesus loved without partiality (James 2:1; John 13:34; John 8:1-11)
• Jesus sought the lost so they might be saved (Luke 19:10)
• Jesus gave thanks to the Father in all things and showed gratitude that flowed from trust and intimate fellowship (John 11:41; John 6:11; Luke 22:19)
• Jesus withdrew often to pray (Luke 5:16)
• Jesus trusted the Father in suffering (1 Peter 2:23)
• Jesus laid down His life in love (John 15:13; Luke 23:46)

Jesus lived in perfect fellowship with the Father, doing nothing apart from Him and moving in harmony with His will. His steps were marked by humility and compassion — He touched the broken, lifted the weary, and forgave those who wronged Him. Wherever He went, He carried the Father’s heart: healing, feeding, teaching, and restoring. His words were full of grace and truth, never seeking His own glory, but revealing the Father’s. In every moment, He gave thanks — before the bread was multiplied, before the cup was shared, even before the miracle was seen. Gratitude was His breath, flowing from perfect trust in the Father’s goodness. He withdrew often to pray, choosing stillness with God over the noise of the crowd, and when suffering came, He entrusted Himself completely into the Father’s hands. He walked in love that laid itself down, light that never dimmed, obedience that never wavered.

To walk as Jesus walked is to live from that same place of abiding — to love as He loved, serve as He served, give thanks in all things, and being obedient to the Father’s will, trusting Him with a heart at rest.

Today, let’s be thankful (and express gratitude) that we have the ability by the empowering of the Holy Spirit to walk like Jesus walked. And then let’s be disciplined to work with the Holy Spirit to actually walk in that manner. Happy Thanksgiving!