Monday April 12, 2021
Today’s Scripture: Colossians 1:24-27
24 I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church. 25 God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. 26 This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. 27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.
Today’s Devotional
We all like a good secret – especially if we are in on it. Secrets make us feel special – like we are more important than everyone else because we are “in the know.” They make us believe that we have an edge or advantage over those who are “in the dark.” Secret societies and conspiracy theories have flourished because of this basic human desire to know something someone else does not know.
Unfortunately, this focus on secret things exists in the Christian world as well. Throughout Christian history (and even to this day) there have been various groups and sects who have claimed to have secret knowledge about Christ and about living the Christian life. These “secret knowledge” groups were especially prevalent in early Christian communities.
Paul, writing to the Colossians, is having none of that. In fact, it seems his desire is to get out as much information as possible and combat those who would claim such secret knowledge about Christ. In this passage he lays it all out. Do you want to know the secret? This is it: Christ lives in you and you share in his glory.
There is no reason to hide it. In fact, Paul WANTS us to share it. Why? Because it is quite radical and will change the way we live.
Christ lives in you. You do not have earn Christ. You do not have to jump through hoops or pray certain words or follow some extreme regiment to gain Christ. Christ is already in you. In the letter to the Galatians Paul writes “I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live – but Christ lives in me.” (2:20) Jesus said “remain in me and I will remain in you” (John 15). This “secret” is actually right out there in the open.
So what does Christ in us really mean? We could spend years talking about it. But here is a short version. Christ living in you means that you have access to the power of God in your life. It means that when God looks at you, God sees that Christ is a part of you. It means that God gives to you the same glory he gives to Christ. Christ living in us means we are never alone, never abandoned, never left to our own devices. It means that we can access pure love and unbridled hope anytime we need it. It means light is always with us – even in the very darkest times of life.
Open yourself to the Christ that is already in you. This is the secret. And now you are in on it.
Today’s Prayer
God help us to see and experience Christ living in us this very day.
Amen
Leave a Reply