Blessed by Jesus in Ways I had Forgotten, in Ways Beyond My Understanding!

I had a wonderful surprise this past September when I hosted family and friends of Pastor Paul Birner by taking them fishing on the Kenai River. I have stocked up on poles, and lures, and boots, and rain gear, so that when folks fish with me I have all the equipment. All they have to do is bring some food, and dress comfortably. So, as I was preparing for these September fishing outings, I found a fishing pole I forgot I had. I previously paired a really nice St. Croix fishing rod with an Abu Garcia C3 baitcaster, my favorite reel. It turns out that this is my nicest salmon fishing set up. As I used this combo, I found that it was the best casting reel I have, in Alaska or in Florida. You see, I had this wonderful fishing gear all the time, but I had forgotten it, or even not realized it was there. Finding this rod and using it again was indeed a wonderful surprise.

That is sort of like what I experienced on Monday, October 6, as I read my daily devotions, from Colossians 1. I have read these words before, but I had forgotten the wonderful, life-changing truth found in this chapter. Or perhaps, I had just never quite taken the time to truly understand this deep truth about the person and work of our Savior, Jesus, truth which God inspired Paul to share. Please consider with me the depth of who Jesus is. “15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians 1:15-19)

These verses begin to reveal to us some of the mystery of Jesus. Jesus existed before anything else. Of course, he is the Son of God, who is eternal. Jesus was active in creation, creating everything ”in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible . . . all things were created through him and for him!” Jesus not only brought everything into being, but, according to these verses, “in Him all things hold together!” Our world may be a mess, but what works is working because Jesus holds it together. Jesus is the head of the church. And, Jesus, the son of Mary, is also totally God, “For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,” It is through Jesus that God chooses to reconcile, or to save the world.

That is A LOT! I paused over, thought about and considered, and meditated upon, what this scripture shares about who Jesus is. Truthfully, the person of Jesus . . . blows my mind!

But, God reveals even more at the end of Colossians 1. Paul writes “25 . . . I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 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.” (Col. 1:25-27)

Paul uses the word “mystery” twice in these 3 verses. The even GREATER surprise is that this Jesus, who is the Creator, and Lord and Savior of all, lives in me! In Me! (And in you!) I am so blessed. This is BEYOND my imagination or understanding.

To have the saving love and the creative power of Jesus in me is a gift that obviously makes a difference in my life. Elizabeth Elliot, Christian writer and wife of missionary martyr, Jim Elliott, writes, “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.” When Jesus is in me I can face anything. I can face disappointment, and sorrow, because Jesus who loved me is in me! I can face my failure and my sin, because my forgiving Savior, Jesus, is in me! I can face illness and death, because Jesus, who rose from the dead and offers eternal life through faith in Him, this Jesus is IN ME!

Last month I found this great fishing rod and reel which I had totally forgotten I had. What a wonderful surprise! But, after reading Colossians 1 again this past Monday morning, I’m still working to let this mystery sink in. “. . . 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.”

What changes in your attitudes, what changes in your behavior, what changes in your life, because Jesus, the Lord and Savior of all, lives in you?