From the Domain of Darkness | Morning Routine Daily Devotional for March 26

Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” But Joab said, “May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” – 1 Chronicles 21:1-3 ESV

Before their salvation, the Colossians were bound in what Paul describes as “the domain of darkness.” If you ever feared being sent by a parent to the basement as a child, you have an immediate context of what Paul is describing. This is why acknowledging being delivered from such a spiritual condition should lead us to live in gratitude to Jesus Christ. He delivered us and transferred us as citizens of His Kingdom. Paul is clear, the Colossians were far from God, and their condition was contrary to Him. However, solely through the work of Jesus, they were transferred to the kingdom of Christ. Jesus was their redeemer, reconciling them to God though they were enemies to Him, forgiving them of their sins. 

We were once citizens of the domain of darkness, but we have new citizenship in Christ. We’re citizens of the kingdom of God. I’ve said before, I’m more of a Monarchist than I’ve ever been before—and my King said he’s coming back. Take courage today: God has an eternal plan for your life, and no power in the universe can change that. Christ is still on the throne. All is well!