Colossians 1:27 “God did this because he
wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the
mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God's
glory.”
What is
this Hope of Glory…Christ in us? God is glory, God deserves all the glory.
The very birth, death and resurrection of Jesus
was to bring Glory to God the father.
What is it that would bring the Father such
glory? That his very created beings made in his image would be restored
unto him. In Isaiah 43:7 God
says, “I want them back, every last one who bears my name, every man, woman,
and child Whom I created for my glory, yes, personally formed and made each one.’
“He made us for his glory!
The struggle comes when we who have
received this blood gift of reconciliation forget our purpose
and identity. We who walk with Christ have been given the deposit of the Holy
spirit. This is the living God, Christ in us. But we honor him not. We choose
to believe lies over the truth. The lie that we will never be good
enough, pretty enough, brave enough etc. We work on the outward and
focus on the flesh but what
if we gave our attention to the Holy one who
lives in us? If we bring glory to the Father when we do as Jesus and become one
with Him, just as he is at one with the father, then let us place our gaze on
becoming one with the son. How do we become one? We start by believing who we
were created to be. We can grab hold of the promises
as in 2 Peter 1:3-4 “Everything
we could ever need for life and complete devotion to God has already
been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us
through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and
invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his
goodness.
4 As
a result of this, he has given you magnificent promises that
are beyond all price, so that through he power of these tremendous promises[
you can experience partnership with the divine nature, by which you
have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world.” The triune
God resides in us and speaks to us, are we listening to that voice? 2
Corinthians 3:18 says,” And we all, with unveiled face,
beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from
one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the
Spirit”. In our prayer time let us focus on
the parts that we recognize as holy and good and
worthy, the parts of us that have already been transformed. The mixing of those
parts of us that we like and are at peace with are many times the very parts
that reflect the nature of Jesus. This process of being transformed into his
likeness is a surrendering but it is also embracing
the lovely parts of ourselves. This Christian
walk often feels like we must either pretend to be something we are not or deny
our true selves. But what if it is more like a melding of what makes us, us,
with the holy spirit? Those desires as a child to just run up and hug someone
or perhaps the inclination to protect others, these come
from a place that is uniquely you. Our Father in
heaven enjoys his creation and calls it good. Who are we to reject his
creation? Yes, we have areas under construction, wounds and ungodly beliefs
that block our view but instead of focusing on these we can choose to honor how
he has created us individually. Instead of comparing ourselves
and seeing lack, see instead Christ in you Hope
of Glory.
Here are some verses to meditate on
Psalm 8:3-6 (CEV)
3 I often
think of the heavens
your hands have made,
and of the moon and stars
you put in place.
4 Then I ask,
“Why do you care
about us humans?
Why are you concerned
for us weaklings?”
5 You made us a
little lower
and you have crowned us
with glory and honor.
6 You let us
rule everything
your hands have made.
And you put all of it
under our power—
Psalm139:3-6 From the Passion Translation
You are so intimately aware of me, Lord.
You read my heart like an open book
and you know all the words I’m about to speak
