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The Two Words That Changed Everything

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Colossians 1:25–27

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.

CONSIDER THIS

What if I told you the prime difference between the New Testament and the Old Testament could be summarized in two words? You already know what they are, don’t you?

In the Old Testament, the presence of God presented all around God’s people. God was in the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. God resided between the cherubim on the mercy seat atop the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place deep in the heart of the tabernacle and later in the temple. God was with his people. At the same time there was this building prophecy that God would be Immanuel, God-with-us, even more so in the future, with the coming of Messiah.

Messiah did, in fact, come, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, the God-Man. God was now with us in human flesh. Immanuel the promise, was now Immanuel the person. Still, the vision was not yet realized. Jesus told his disciples that unless and until he ascended to the Father, the Holy Spirit would not come.

The mystery, long hidden and now revealed, is not God with us. It is Christ in us. This was the vision from the start—the vision of Eden; not just God with us, but God in us.

We think so much of the presence of God as a kind of phenomenon that exists around us. The New Testament primarily envisages the presence of God as dwelling within us. We have thought so much about the plan of salvation as getting us into heaven. All along the plan of salvation has been to get heaven into us.

The two words that changed everything? In you.

Domino #1/27 shall henceforth be called The Secret.

THE PRAYER

Abba Father, we thank you for your Son, Jesus, who more than with us, would dwell within us. Awaken me to this mystery and make it my reality: Christ in me. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

THE QUESTIONS

1. Do you think more of God being with you, or in you?
2. What are the implications of Christ being in you?
3. What would it mean and look like for you to become more attuned to the reality of Jesus Christ dwelling in you through the presence of the Holy Spirit?

For the Awakening,
J.D. Walt
Sower-in-Chief
seedbed.com

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WHAT IS THIS? Wake-Up Call is a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus. Each morning our community gathers around a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer, and a few short questions, inviting us to reorient our lives around the love of Jesus that transforms our hearts, homes, churches, and cities.

Comments and Discussion

4 Responses

  1. #1) Honestly, it’s much easier for me to think of God’s presence around me than within me. I know what God’s word reveals, so it’s a matter of experience versus knowledge. This is something that I currently strive for, a goal not yet reached.
    #2) The implications of Christ within me would mean my life to be fully surrendered to Him in every way.
    #3) I believe that to fully experience Christ in me would be the essence of perfect peace irregardless of external circumstances. It would be knowing that I have crucified the flesh, and it is no longer I who live ,but Christ who lives within me.

  2. When Christ
    Is freely allowed
    To live and reign
    In you,
    He will continually
    Renew, empower,
    And refresh you.

    Christ in you is not “the hope to cope”–to just get by as a carnal Christin. He wants to live within you and be “the hope of glory!”

    I think that “think” isn’t the right word for how to respond to Christ in you. “Savor” is better. Savor His inner presence and His glory. “O taste and see that God is good.” Savor the risen Savior!

    When we surrender to the presence of the living Jesus and let Him live in us and continually direct us from within, we experience ongoing rivers of living water that flow from our innermost being as the fruit of the Spirit and as spiritual gifts. We overflow with hope and glory, regardless of our outward circumstances.

    The more attuned we are to the indwelling Jesus and His inner Light, the more the kingdom of God comes to rule and reign within us and through us–His will being done by us as it is in Heaven. Our conscience is activated and directed by His presence, and we eagerly obey it. His Lordship is no longer a theological concept, but a practical, daily reality. He’s no longer just our figurehead but He becomes our literal Head. We not only hear His voice; we do what He says! We are “led by the Spirit.” We “walk in the Spirit. We “live by the Spirit.” We “glory in Christ Jesus.”

    1. I appreciate your response! The part about savoring God in me and relating it to Psalm 34:8 makes so much sense. And also the “figurehead” vs. “literal Head” is a perfect analogy.

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