Sep 16 – The Hope of Glory!

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27)

The Apostle Paul speaks of many divine mysteries in his Epistles. He says: “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1)

It is Christ who has called you to ministry. It is Christ who has entrusted the ministry to you. And it is Christ who works through you to accomplish that ministry. To those who serve Him, He reveals His mysteries.

A mystery is not something that is known to everyone. It is a secret or a hidden truth disclosed only to certain persons. The Lord does not reveal His mysteries to the world, but reveals them to His chosen children. There are mysteries that the Lord did not fully reveal even to the saints of the Old Testament, but which He has now made known to His Bride, the Church, in the New Testament.

One of the greatest of these divine mysteries is this: the God whom the heavens cannot contain chooses to dwell within human beings. This is something the world cannot comprehend.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

When Christ, the hope of glory, dwells within us, the Holy Spirit also dwells within us. “The Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:14)

That is why Scripture asks: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Not only that, we have also received within us the power and greatness of God, together with the gifts and fruit of the Spirit. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Once, a brother struck his wife in anger. He did not consider what he had done to be a serious offence. But during his time of prayer, the Lord spoke to his heart: “My son, why did you strike Me? Why did you cause Me pain? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” The brother was deeply convicted of his wrongdoing.

What a solemn truth this is! When Christ dwells within us, the way we treat others matters to Him. Our words, our actions, our attitudes and even the way we treat those closest to us are brought under the light of His presence.

Dear children of God, if Christ dwells within you, then you have the hope of glory within you. And when the hope of glory lives within you, the expectation of glory will also arise within you.

You are not merely carrying a religious belief within you; you are carrying the treasure of Christ’s presence. Therefore, live in such a way that His character, His holiness, His love and His glory may be revealed through you.

Verse for further meditation: “That He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.” (Romans 9:23)