“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” —COLOSSIANS 1:27

For countless people, life is difficult and painful. God is continually being asked for strength in this instance, wisdom in that one, success here, patience there, direction, comfort, protection, peace…. all worthy requests, but God has only one thing to give us, and therein lies the glorious riches of the great mystery of God. He gives us Jesus.

Paul writes, “I have become its servant (the church) by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness – the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints” (Colossians 1:25-26). The mystery Paul reveals is Christ in us, our hope of glory. It is not a concept. As Christians, it is a reality that Jesus Christ, by His Holy Spirit, lives in us.

The Gospel is about a person – Christ; about a place in us; about a purpose, the hope of glory, and the appropriation of that in our lives. In Scripture, God’s revelation of Christ is a progression from promise to fulfillment. In the progression, there are clues dotted all the way throughout the Old Testament that don’t make sense until we come to the New Testament where the promise comes to fulfillment in Christ.

Hebrews 1:3 says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” ‘Glory’ is God’s moral character, all that is righteous, pure and good, which was embodied in His Son. Our hope of attaining to any degree the glory of God is “Christ in us”. That isn’t imitating Jesus, but allowing Jesus the liberty to live His life in us. We then experience the unveiling power of Christ’s Spirit at work in our lives. Colossians 2:2 says, “That they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” To understand that is to draw on the limitless resources that are ours in Christ.

Though circumstances may be difficult and painful, when we trust and depend on Christ’s indwelling Spirit, our entire perspective changes, because it is then we release ourselves from the consequences, and operate in Christ’s strength, wisdom and guidance. Oswald Chambers wrote: “The last aching abyss of the human heart is filled to overflowing with the love of God. After He comes in, all you see is Jesus; Jesus only, Jesus ever.” That is the purpose of the Gospel, the great mystery of God – “Christ in us”, and we need nothing more!

PRAYER: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being all that I need. I pray that your Spirit in me grows deeper and stronger, and brings me into a closer likeness of You.

TO REFLECT UPON: Am I allowing Christ to live His life in me?