“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him...” —COLOSSIANS 1:19

When Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth, He had greatly incensed the people in the synagogue by claiming Himself to be the Messiah. Their anger was so fierce they drove Him out of the town with the intent of throwing Him off a cliff. Jesus didn’t run from them, but walked right through them and went on His way. Lazarus, a close friend, was dying, but Jesus deliberately took four days in coming. On the many occasions He was harassed and ridiculed by leaders of His own people, He faced them head on with the truth. On the night of His arrest, knowing death was imminent, He willingly handed Himself over to Roman soldiers. In every situation, Jesus was panic proof.

How many times have we collapsed our head to our hands, agonizing over a threatening situation? Perhaps we argue that we’re not divine as Jesus is. We don’t have His knowledge, His wisdom or power. The truth is that apart from the fact Jesus was without sin, as a man on earth, He wasn’t any different than us. He was formed of flesh and blood, grew and matured; no special powers, no mentors, no degrees in psychology or theology. He was a carpenter who became an itinerant preacher.

Why did Jesus not panic in threatening situations? Scripture tells us He lived in an intimate relationship with His Father. For hours at a time, He would steal away to be alone with Him. His prayers were always for the will of God, and He depended upon Him, trusted Him, and was obedient to Him. His love for His Father was unconditional, and out of this deeply intimate union came the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

In intimate union with Christ, we grow increasingly into that fullness. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:2, “I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.” But there comes a time we get weaned from the milk, and learn to live utterly dependent upon Jesus. Though He is God, He chose to come into this world as a servant. In John 5:19 & 30, He said that He could do nothing by Himself. Later, He said, “The Father is in me, and I in the Father” (John 10:38).

If we are in Christ, then Christ is in us, and just as it was the Father working through Him with wonders and signs, Christ works in us. We have all the resources we need in Him, and we know there is nothing He cannot defeat. Intimate union with Christ and dependence upon Him is what makes us panic proof, and that is a clear indication of someone living in Christ.

PRAYER: Thank you, Lord, for being my refuge in trying times. May I always rest in You and depend on You, knowing your will is being worked out.

TO REFLECT UPON: Am I growing in the fullness of the Spirit, and resting in Christ’s sufficiency, especially in difficult times?