Day 32: Overflowing Gratitude!
9For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body, Colossians 2:9
In today’s Scripture the Apostle Paul presents an incredible truth, one which combats the empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense of which we read yesterday. It bears reading again: For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body. Colossians 2:9 Many of the cults that have arisen that look “Christian” deny the crucial reality presented in Colossians 2:9: Jesus is God. Note that we are told that the FULLNESS of God lives in a human body in Jesus Christ. Jesus is not a “semi-god” or demigod, or a god among many other gods. Jesus IS God. When we know that, when we know that we serve the ONE, true and living God, who has shown Himself to us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, then we are going to live our lives based on that reality. While no one can fully understand how God can be both one and three, while Jesus being fully God and fully human seems impossible, the Bible makes it clear that He is! As we go about our daily lives, investigating the truth claims of other religions and of science, one thing stands out: Christianity is unique. Jesus being FULLY God is something that we find in no other world religion or philosophical system. Our task as followers of Jesus is to respond to this reality with overflowing gratitude. The “task” as I’ve called it is easy, since once we understand the impact of Jesus giving up heaven to come to earth to become one of us, gratitude naturally flows from us! In another letter, the Apostle Paul wrote of the amazing truth that God became one of us in Jesus, despite our being in a state of “ungodliness.” (See Romans 5) It is incredible that God became flesh and lived among us, that this God—Jesus—DIED on the cross of Calvary to take away our sins. If that doesn’t make our hearts overflow with gratitude, most likely nothing will.
Questions and Comments for Reflection and Action:
What is the significance to you that all the fullness of God lived (and lives) in a human body in Jesus?
Take time to thank God for this amazing blessing!