"Showing Hospitality"
Jun. 14, 2019
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
~ Colossians 1:27 (ESV)
The idea of Christ Jesus living inside a believer is not easily explainable. And it's certainly not something the world can comprehend. Even St. Paul calls it a mystery. Thankfully, though mysterious, the truth of God's Word is clear: Jesus lives inside of you, inside of me, inside of all those who believe in Him as their Savior.
And as a believer, the new life we live in Christ is a transformed life. Again, Paul writes, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).
When you come to faith in Jesus, He comes to dwell in your heart; He takes up residence there. He lives within you so "that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:16-19).
Such is the love of God that He would come to live in us, embracing the broken vessels of our lives and mending us with His healing Potter's touch. And why would He do such a thing? Judas himself wondered this (see John 14:22-23), and Jesus' answer to him has many facets, but He stresses that by means of the Holy Spirit, He will be living inside His disciples, carrying on His work through the lives of those who are His by faith (see John 14:15-31).
Just as Jesus called His disciples, lived in them, and worked through them, today He calls us. He calls us to submit our lives to Him, so He can carry on His mission through us. Do you hear Him knocking? As He dwells in our hearts, He wants to come through every door and enter every room in our lives. Into the rooms of our work, our wants, our talents, our finances, and our families, Jesus asks for them all—and He's calling today.
"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also conquered and sat down with My Father on His throne" (Revelation 3:20-21).
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, may my life reflect to others the gracious hospitality You have shown to us. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
- What do you think it means for Christians to live a transformed life?
- Can you know that Christ lives inside you? How so?
- Do you think your life appears to have a Christ-centered focus to those who know you best?
From The Lutheran Layman, July 1979 issue, "Christ Lives in Me!" by Matt Welser. Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
What do you think it means for Christians to live a transformed life?
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