Upper Loft Meditation - Colossians 1

“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

Paul is sharing with the believers in Colossae a spectacular secret that God seeks to make known.  It is priceless, “the glorious riches of this mystery.”  Paul piles on the superlatives; for this is a truth that stretches his mind.  It is a simple truth with profound implications.  What is it?  Christ is in you and his presence is a confirmation of your future glory.

“To paraphrase Dr. Ray Stedman, Christians who have discovered the truth of “Christ in you”, not merely in an intellectual sense, but in a practical sense that affects their living day by day are seldom bored.  To them, everything is exciting.  Even difficulties and trials are regarded as adventures and they look forward to how the Lord will work them out.  They may feel a sense of risk.  Perhaps even danger, but they also have a sense of excitement and anticipation as they look for God to act.” (F.B. Meyer) God is at work in you to be a blessing to others and to manifest his glory that all may praise his name.

C.H. Spurgeon helps us with a right perspective.  “It seems a strange thing that a sinner should ever have anything to do with glory when he deserves nothing but shame.  We are neither kings nor princes, what have we to do with glory?  Yet glory is to be our dwelling, glory our light, glory our crown, glory our song.  The Lord will not be content to give us less than glory.”

Ask God to give you a rich understanding of these seven words of mystery.