Today’s reading:
“the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 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 1:26-27
Most of us love a good mystery. Certainly, whodunits fill our screens and popular novels. But this love doesn’t necessarily transfer to trying to understand the Bible. How often do we skip over the tricky bits in our daily readings, assuming that these are really only for biblical scholars?
However, God doesn’t always want to give us all the answers on a platter. He cleverly draws us in sometimes with gentle words, other times with thoughts too deep for us to comprehend. Indeed, in Jeremiah 33:3 God says to Jeremiah: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know”.
God offers the same promise to us. He invites us to earnestly seek him and He will show us great things. What are these great things? His healing, peace, truth, restoration and mercy.
It seems to me that today’s passage completes these mysterious hidden things mentioned in Jeremiah. However, they are spelled out plainly for us to see. At this point in the story we already know that Jesus Christ has given himself as a sacrifice for our sins and is now alive and reigning for ever. What else could there be?
The mystery is “CHRIST IN US”. The person of Jesus Christ dwelling in us
That’s right. This all-powerful Lord, all-sufficient Saviour has made his home in you and me. This is indeed a mystery. The more we ponder on the fact that Christ dwells in us, the greater our awe and wonder. How can He; Why would He; Who am I that He would???
Before you stop to ponder this amazing truth, I should finish the sentence: “Christ in you, the hope of glory”. This means that we can experience God’s glory now, we don’t have to wait until we die.
So let us take a couple minutes, close your eyes, think on this, and pray about this. It goes beyond words.
Let us pray: Lord, thank you that you draw us in closer and closer to you. As I sit here now, would you please help me to grasp this mysterious truth, that You are dwelling in me now. Amen
Tomorrow’s passage: Colossians 1:28-29