That Secret Truth

Sunday, ‎October ‎9, ‎2022

Good Morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Galatians 5:16-17 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Memory verse: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Today's reading: ISAIAH 32-33 COLOSSIANS 1

That Secret Truth

Paul says in Colossians 1, "You must not let anything cause you to give up the hope that became yours when you heard the Good News."

No matter where we are in life, there will be some type of pain or suffering or both but this cannot be allowed to cloud our view of all the great things we have in this life in Christ. The abundant life is full of the hard things as well as the great things. So how do we see through the pain?

Paul writes about the 'secret truth' that has now been made available to all people. That truth, from Colossians 1:27...That secret truth, which is for all people, is that Christ lives in you, his people. He is our hope for glory.

So how do we keep going and keep the hope up as we go? It is Christ living in us, He is the strength. This is why it is so absolutely important for us to keep our focus on Him in Bible study and prayer and in reaching out to touch folks in His name.

Paul says he works and struggles using the great strength that Christ gives him, verse 29. It is just that-a great, great strength. It is all the strength we will ever need and infinitely more than we can ever expend. The more we use it, the more we realize how great it is; the more we realize His great power in us the more we move in that power.

We cannot lose sight of His power and seek to know Him more fully and seek to make Him known. We cannot allow anything to rob us of that hope-all negatives must be taken captive-prisoner-locked away from taking root and having a lasting influence.

We must work to know His great strength and use His great strength to work and grow.

The tragedy is that many read words like these and feel as if they are on the outside looking in. The words sound great but this reality seems far off. Why? We must step out of the boat toward Jesus as He walks on the water. We have to get to the place where nothing matters at this moment in time except our relationship with Him. We have to put all our trust in Him surrendering all we have and all we are.

The old song said, "Stop the world and let me off". The world cannot be stopped but we can disconnect from the control the world has on us. We have to step off the world and grasp the truth of this great strength in faith and leave our old nature dependence behind.

How much peace and true hope are we missing because we will not make this choice? Run to Jesus.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me, oh God, for running from your truth. I want to want all You have for me.

Patient and loving God,

In the name of Jesus,

Amen