Colossians 1:13 Devotional – Rescued

Colossians 1:13

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

Devotional

Devotional

There is a unique kind of comfort that comes with the word rescue. It suggests a heroic act, someone reaching into a dangerous or hopeless situation and pulling you out. It means you were stuck, unable to escape on your own, and someone came to your aid.

In this verse, we are reminded that God is that rescuer. He didn’t just help us cope with darkness — He pulled us out of it entirely. The word “rescued” here is in the past tense. It’s not something He is going to do, or might do if we’re good enough. It is already done. The rescue mission was successful.

But what exactly were we rescued from?

Paul describes it as “the dominion of darkness.” That’s more than just a poetic phrase. It speaks of a realm, a kingdom, where sin, spiritual blindness, and rebellion against God reign. It’s a place where the enemy, Satan, influences the minds and hearts of those who are separated from the truth of the gospel.

It’s a world where there are no true moral standards, where “anything goes,” and where the light of God’s truth is either rejected or unknown. Everyone, by default, starts there, trapped in that darkness without even knowing it.

But here’s the beauty of the verse: God didn’t just rescue us from darkness. He brought us into something new. We were transferred into “the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Think of that for a moment, we weren’t just pulled out and left wandering. We were given a new home, a new identity, a new citizenship.

A kingdom filled with light, truth, love, holiness, and eternal life. A kingdom ruled not by fear or lies but by Jesus, full of grace and truth.

This is the spiritual reality of every believer in Christ. We have literally been moved from hell to heaven, from death to life, in the blink of an eye. That is nothing short of marvellous.

It’s easy to forget this, especially when life gets hard or we still feel the pull of our old habits. But the truth remains: your spiritual address has changed. You no longer live in darkness. You no longer belong to the enemy. You are a child of light, a citizen of heaven.

Let that truth sink in today.

Declaration

I thank God every day that He has changed my spiritual address, from pain and destruction to joy and light, from darkness to life.

Reflection Questions

1. Have you fully embraced the truth that you’ve been rescued from darkness?
2. In what areas of your life are you still living as if you’re in the old kingdom?
3. How can you walk more confidently in your new identity in Christ this week?
4. Who around you still lives in darkness — and how can you reflect Christ’s light to them

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for saving me. Thank You for reaching into the depths of my brokenness and pulling me out when I couldn’t save myself. I’m deeply grateful that You saw me in the darkness and chose to rescue me, not because I deserved it, but because of Your endless grace and mercy.

Thank You for not giving up on me, even when I was stubborn, lost, or indifferent to You. Your love pursued me when I was distant, and Your light shone into places I tried to keep hidden. You never stopped calling me, and I am so thankful for Your patience and faithfulness.

Thank You for transferring me from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of Your beloved Son. I praise You for giving me a new spiritual home, one filled with light, peace, purpose, and hope. Thank You for giving me a new identity as Your child, redeemed and set apart, and for the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Help me, Lord, to live in the light of this truth every single day. When I’m tempted to return to old ways or believe the lies of the enemy, remind me that I no longer belong to darkness. Strengthen me to walk in the freedom, joy, and righteousness You have given me.

Let my life reflect the beauty of Your salvation, and may I never forget the miracle of being rescued by You.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.