DO YOU KNOW THE SECRET?

"And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory." —Colossians 1:26-27 NLT

Pastor, author, and Christian leader Lloyd Ogilvie shared about a time in his life when he was working so hard for the Lord. He was preaching, teaching, serving, writing, and ministering in Jesus’ name. But there was a big problem. In all his working for the Lord, he had lost his joy, his peace, his love, his passion, and his power. Ministry had become an empty chore. As he stopped to reflect on where he was spiritually, it dawned on him. He had missed the secret! He was living and serving without the secret.

What is the secret? The Christian life is not working hard in your own strength to serve God. According to Colossians 1:27, the Christian life is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” 

The New Living Translation words Colossians 1:26-27 this way:

“This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.”

In Old Testament times, the Lord had a temple for His people. But since Jesus came and died and rose again, God now has a people for His temple. The great, eternal, almighty God now lives in His people! If you truly know Jesus as Savior and Lord and have surrendered your life to Him, your very heart is the Holy of Holies. Wow!

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE SECRET?

1. You have power! You are inhabited by the King of Glory! He, who lives in you, wants to live through you. He wants to fill your life with His peace, joy, love, and power. All that He is and can do is available to you, because He now lives inside! Just yield yourself every day to Him. Say with the songwriter, “Jesus, be Jesus in me. No longer me, but Thee. Resurrection power, fill me this hour. Jesus, be Jesus in me!”

2. You have assurance! The Lord has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us (see Hebrews 13:5). When Jesus moves into a life, He moves in forever! When you sin and blow it big time, He does not move out of your life saying, “I’m done with you, you sinner!” The Bible says, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). There is great assurance in knowing you are His forever. You have eternal life and can never lose it because He will never desert one of His blood-bought children. 

3. You will share His glory! Without question, true Christians will have difficulties and persecutions. The world is not for Jesus. The world is against Jesus and nailed Him to a cross. If you truly follow Jesus and take a stand for Him at work, at school, and in the community, you will experience ridicule, persecution, suffering, and maybe even bodily harm. But that’s OK, because Paul said, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18).

There is great glory awaiting those who are faithful to the Lord regardless of the ridicule and persecution. Heaven is going to be a zillion times more wonderful and more glorious than we could ever even imagine (see 1 Corinthians 2:9). So, keep standing firm as you remember the secret: Christ in you! It is worth it all to live life surrendered to King Jesus so you can experience His love, joy, and power this day and all the days to come.

Love, 

Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries

Today's Bible Verse...

Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you — majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?—Exodus 15:11

Thoughts on Today's Verse... With whom do you compare the incomparable? How do you grasp the infinite with a finite mind? When the quintessence of majesty is the God you contemplate, how can you ever speak of majesty about anything else? God exhausts our superlatives. God's glory bewilders our imaginations. God's greatness exceeds our wildest dreams. He is beyond what we can know or believe. Yet the Wonder of all his wonders is simply this: he limited himself to a baby, swaddled by loving parents in strips of cloth, and placed in a feed trough because there was no room for them in the inn. Sometimes the greatest of all wonders are not the ones that require our biggest and best words. Sometimes the greatest of all wonders wrap their tiny fingers around our own and capture our hearts.

My Prayer... I do not know how to understand your incredible love for us, yes even for me. How could you enter our world in baby Jesus? Like the Magi, I bow and worship you, Lord Jesus, and our Father who sent you. Who is like you, O God? Nobody is even close. Yet for some reason known only to your grace, you have brought us close. I praise you for your majesty and I praise you for your manger. To your glory, precious Jesus, and in your name, I offer this praise. Amen.

The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.

Today's Verse Illustrated...

Outreach by Fax by Rob Suggs