Jesus in the Writings of Paul (2)
Pray Psalm 16.10, 11.
For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Sing Psalm 16.10, 11.
(All to Christ: Jesus Paid It All)
Soon Your glory I shall see, for as Jesus rose again,
You will come to gather me to my home with You in heav’n.
Refrain v. 11
Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand.
Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.
Read Rom. 8.9-11; Gal. 2.20, 21; Phil. 1.19-21; Col. 1.13, 19-27; meditate on Col. 1.13, 19-27.
Preparation
1. What is the Christian’s “hope of glory”?
2. In what sense is Christ “in” those who believe?
Meditation
A great mystery is unfolding in time and has been unfolding now for 2,000 years. God has revealed this mystery to all who believe in Jesus, all whom God has conveyed into the Kingdom of Christ (v. 13). It’s no mystery to us, my fellow believer. Rather it is our glory: Jesus Christ is present with us always, just as He promised (Matt. 28.20) by the indwelling power of His Holy Spirit. All the fullness of God that dwells in Jesus (v. 19) now resides in us, bearing holy spiritual fruit (Gal. 5.22, 23), deploying holy spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12.7-11), transforming us into the very likeness of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3.12-18), imbuing us with power to bear witness to Christ (Acts 1.8), and keeping us in this way unto the day of Jesus’ coming again (2 Tim. 1.12).
This is the Christian’s “hope of glory”—to know Jesus, to increase in love for Him, and to be sent and engaged in serving Him in every aspect and moment of our lives. To see in us and in our lives more and more of what we expect to see fully and gloriously on the day when we stand before our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 3.1-3).
We have been crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, we live, but only by virtue of His living Presence within us. The Holy Spirit, Who served as midwife to the creation (Gen. 1.2), Who inspired the prophets and the apostles in writing Scripture (2 Pet. 1.20), Who daily renews and refreshes the creation (Ps. 104.30), and Who is in Himself all the fullness of the Triune God—this Holy Spirit dwells in us, is at work in us (Phil. 2.13), can fill and overflow from us (Eph. 5.18-21; Jn. 7.37-39), and is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more in and through us than we could ever dare to ask or think (Eph. 3.20).
Is this what you most earnestly desire? Is it true for you, as it was for Paul, that to live—in every aspect and facet of your life—is Jesus Christ (Phil. 1.21)? Examine yourself, believer. The mystery of the fullness of God is within you. What are you waiting for?
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Lk. 11.13).
“For You have made him most blessed forever;
You have made him exceedingly glad with Your Presence” (Ps. 21.6).
By His Presence—His Holy Spirit—we can do what He has called us to do:
“I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart” (Ps. 119.32).
Through the Holy Spirit—our Creator—we have been given the power to know Him:
“Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding,
that I may learn Your commandments” (Ps. 119.73).
In His Spirit—the Word—we find hope for obedience:
“LORD, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your commandments” (Ps. 119.166).
Because of His Power—dwelling in the Holy Spirit—we live to praise:
“Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the LORD;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being” (Ps. 146.1, 2).
Having the Holy Spirit—the mind of Christ—we have a new perspective:
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2.20).
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1.21).
As “God’s fellow workers” (1 Cor. 3.9)—filled with His Holy Spirit—we will remain as such, if:
we “continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel” (Col. 1.23) which we have heard and believed; and walking in Christ Jesus “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith”, as we have been taught, and abounding in it with thanksgiving (Col. 2.6, 7).
His indwelling Presence and Power—the Holy Spirit—will guide us into all truth (Jn. 16.13), and will lead us to be pleasing to the Father, Who has given us this Good Gift:
“But if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you,
He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies
through His Sprit Who dwells in you” (Rom. 8.11).
Filled to run the course.
Reflection
1. When are you most aware of Christ in you, the hope of glory?
2. When do you most need to know the filling of the Holy Spirit?
3. How would you explain to a new believer what it means to have Christ living in you?
Let us be thankful that God has made known to us mysteries hidden from ages and generations, and has showed the riches of his glory among us. As Christ is preached among us, let us seriously inquire, whether he dwells and reigns in us; for this alone can warrant our assured hope of his glory. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Colossians 1.24-29
Pray Psalm 16.1-9.
Pray that God will show you more of His way, will unleash in You more of His Presence and power, will lead you into more of His pleasure, and keep before you the holy face of Jesus throughout this day.
Sing Psalm 16.1-9, 11.
(All to Christ: Jesus Paid It All)
Preserve me, O my God; I refuge seek in You.
You alone are all my good, my LORD and Savior true!
Refrain v. 11
Make me know life’s way! Pleasures fill Your hand.
Fill my life with joy each day! Before Your face I stand.
The saints within the earth, majestic in their day,
delight me with the worth of all they do and say.
Refrain
They endless tears shall weep who worship idols vain;
their ways I will not keep, nor speak their empty names.
Refrain
My portion and my cup are You, my Savior dear;
You help and hold me up and ever keep me near.
Refrain
I bless Your Name, O LORD; my mind instructs each night;
You teach me by Your Word and guide me in the right.
Refrain
You are ever with me, LORD; in You I shall not fall.
But rejoicing in Your Word, I abide within Your call.
Refrain
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our current ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” is dealing with the time of our livesand how we make more of this for the progress of Christ’s Kingdom. In our Read Moore column, we continue working our way through the book, Understanding the Times. And I encourage you follow our Corsfigell series on Brendan of Clonfert, nicknamed “The Navigator.” Join us and find out why. Click the Articles tab on the home page to see all the selections available to you.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
