Oh boy, we are half way through November and have only just dipped into Colossians chapter two! Whoever is writing these posts is going to have to speed things up to be done by the end of the month. Maybe she should have planned ahead better or, say, have planned in some way, any way at all! It has gotten quite late in this day and people came before other things this afternoon, so I was not able to do the reading I wanted to to prepare for a post. Fortunately, part of my evening activity involved talking about Colossians!
Tonight in our Community Group we were looking at the previous passage, 1:15-20, the one all about the supremacy of Christ. Throughout this semester we have been talking about the word and theme of dwelling in Scripture. Our leader, Peter, wanted us to think about what it means that all of God's fullness dwelt in Christ (v. 19).
That got me to thinking about how later, (verse 27), Paul says the mystery God revealed is Christ in you, the hope of glory. God the Son, Jesus, was/is indwelt by all that God the Father is. He was sent to die on the cross to reconcile all things to the Father and to make a way to dwell in each one who believes in Him. Christ was indwelt that we might be indwelt.
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27
I can't really get over it. God wants to take up residence in His people. That He does, gives hope. I believe one could argue that, in addition to being our hope, Christ in us also emboldens us. If Christ lives in me, He must have work to do in and through me. If Christ lives in you, He must have work to do in and through you. The awesome, mighty, glorious, wonderful Creator God, dwelling inside of you and me.
Paul spoke of his struggle and his labor for the Gospel. How did He keep it up amid opposition, physical punishment, imprisonments, the thorn in his flesh, etc.?
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28-29
Christ in Paul, the hope of glory. His glory was not to be found in fame or fortune. Paul's hope of glory was a person, a person living inside of him, working powerfully in him, giving him the strength to labor fully in the service of the Gospel - Jesus Christ.
Paul was completely surrendered to the Christ that lived in him.
I don't think I'm there yet. But the reminder that God dwells in my heart through faith. GOD in ME? Preposterous, yet wonderful, when we believe it.
How might meditating on, Christ in you, the hope of glory, begin to change you, what you think, how you act, your willingness to take risks? I suspect He'll get right to work as soon as we let Him!
I'm risking falling asleep on m keyboard, so that's the end. G'night, friends.
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