ChangeSample

CHRIST IN ME The question, ‘Who are you?’ can be answered in a lot of different ways. Naturally, our answer can be impacted by our present feelings, situations, and circumstances. When we think things are going particularly well in our lives, we are happy to say something like  "I’m X, and I do this job, and I have these relationships, and I achieved this, etc…’ We have so much to be grateful for.  With God and His blessings in our lives, we realize that so much in this world can be superficial and temporary. Things will always change. This devotional is being written during the mandated lockdowns caused by the global Coronavirus crisis. This is a time when no-one really knows what tomorrow holds. But the good news is that the Bible tells us that there is something or someone , both permanent and eternal, that is the basis for our identity and hope: Jesus. Jesus in me. Jesus in you. “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross… To them [the Saints] God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him…” Colossians 1: 15-20 / 27-28 Jesus will never change. He will reign supreme on His throne forever.  God has revealed to us something amazing, a mystery that was hidden for generations: the gospel of His love! ‘Dying to save us, rising to raise us, there’s no one like our God!’ Paul shares with us that ‘the glorious riches of this mystery’  is a gift from God.  It is because of Jesus' saving work that, He now lives in us! The perfect love of Jesus is a love that can never be affected or changed by any circumstance or achievement in our lives. Jesus has gives us eternal hope.  In return for this precious gift, all we are called on to do is to root ourselves daily in the identity of Christ in us.  We know that Christ lives within us.  We have been blessed with the knowledge and power to boldly proclaim His great love for us.  W are able to step out in faith because He knows who we are. Speak His power over your life: ‘Forgiven, I’ve been set free. I am loved.’ Speak His promise over your life: ‘My Jesus, my victory. The hope of glory.’ The encouragement in Colossians 1:28 to ‘proclaim Him' is amazing!  Not only is it important for us to know our identity in Christ, but it’s also important for us to share His gospel with love and encouragement.  We are blessed to be able to share the Good News with one another:  not just within our cities, but also throughout the world.  We can never stop singing about the message of the gospel when Jesus lives within us.  He is the center of our being and the light of the world!