. . . to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)
What action do you take when acquiring something valuable? If money, you may invest it, thinking long term, or if another valuable item, you may put it in a safe place where it can be appreciated but preserved. The first thought in our minds may not be how we share what we have acquired. We may be inclined to give a little, but it is hard to share with others completely.
God has not hoarded or hidden the hope of Jesus, instead He shares it with us. He made accessible not just to a select few but to all who accept it. He also did not keep it as a far-off hope to be a reality someday but made it so that it would meet our present and eternal needs. God delights to share the wealth of glory. He brought His hope to be alive in His people through Jesus. It is not just the things “out there” in the world He is redeeming, but also the wounds and hurt in our own lives. He has come to change us from the inside out and to shape us to share that hope with others. This is the hope we carry every single day in Christ.
- What are some ways hope feels far off? How have you allowed Christ to heal and bring hope to those places He is needed?
- What is special about the way God shared His hope with us? How should that impact our response to Him?
- Pray and ask God to show who around you needs to be encouraged with His hope.
