December 5 - Colossians 1:27

Hi Northland. This week we continue to think about the word hope. Throughout the Old Testament. The prophets looked in anticipation and hope towards the fulfillment of all of God's promises. Which all of those promises were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Paul, as he writes to the Colossians, wants to remind them or point out to them, how throughout ages and generations in the past. There was a mystery, that God revealed to, Both the Jews and the Gentiles. He describes this mystery not as something, um, that was unknown, but rather something that was unclear, that was made clear or revealed. Let's look at what Paul says in Colossians 127. He says this 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. Now, as Paul was pointing this, these truths out to the Colossians, he's wanting to communicate really 2 things to them. First of all, he wants them to understand that Christ is in their midst. He is Christ in you. That's part of this mystery that's been revealed. Is that Christ is in them. He is present with them and with you and me. So not just in the Christmas season, as we go through all of the fun events of Christmas. He is present with us, but he is present with us at all times throughout. All our days. He is in our midst. But secondly, it says here, that Christ in the hope of glory. This hope is not just some, um, hope of like, well, I, I, I hope something happens, but rather it is, the anticipation of what Christ will do again. See, he died on the cross for us and rose again. But that also comes with the fact that he will return. And we will be with him. We will remain with him for eternity. So this verse here tells us of our present reality, Christ in us, but also of our future reality, that we will remain with Christ. And as we move through this Christmas season, no matter what you're struggling with, no matter the challenges that you face, you can rest in the knowledge that Christ is with you, and he will remain with you for eternity. Or you will remain with him in eternity. Let God's word be comforting to you today.