I have become its servant 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 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: 25-27
Outside of the Gospels, this has always been the most transformative verse in the Scriptures for me — over many long years. Paul is writing about a mystery of “ages and generations” that finally is out in the open. It is “Christ in you.” Life as God intended for us is not about a group you join, a test you pass or a set of skills you acquire. The “hope of glory” is not how smart you are, how good you look, how fit you become or what anyone thinks of you. The secret is that God, through the work of Jesus, fits in you. All the power and wisdom and justice and love of God wants to inhabit you, and by faith it does. The best church experience of my life was Richard Halverson closing every service of Fourth Presbyterian Church in DC with words that went something like this: “You go no where by accident this week. Wherever you go, Christ is in you. To work. To the market. To the doctor’s office. To your neighborhood. To your homes. Christ is in you. Believe it. God wants to teach with your voice, heal with your hands and love with your life. As you go, you bring Christ to your world this week.” Jesus in you and me is the heart of hope. Believe it?
Lord, thank you for disclosing your secret plan to us. What a privilege to know it and be part of it. I will celebrate “Christ in you” with my whole life today. Amen
