Today’s reading is Colossians 2: 9-17 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities,he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
As I read the scripture for today my mind went to, “What does it mean to be given fullness in Christ (old NIV) or to be brought to fullness in Christ (new NIV )”? The opposite of full is empty - so without Him and the fullness of all He has for me, I am empty. It’s the same as the new wine skin and patches. If I’m not truly living in the fullness of Jesus, then I have to do patching here and there as I need Him, rather than accessing His power and authority over every aspect of my life and in every moment. I looked up the meaning of “full” and this is what Webster’s says: 1. Filled 2. Complete 3. Rounded 4. Having an abundance of something ; entirely; utmost degree. I love “utmost degree” by the way...
So, practically, I’m thinking, how do I live in this fullness, abundance, utmost degree of Christ, that’s been given to me? How do I see myself living with His life in me everyday? How do I access and live under His authority and power... the same authority and power that God used to raise Jesus from the dead. The same authority and power that disarms the devil and triumphs over him by the cross! My mind is totally capable of receiving this information and believing it and believing I have His life and power in me... but my heart has difficulty knowing how to receive it and put it into practice and then see myself under Him and full of Him (and all that comes with that) every moment of every day.
Repetitiveness is helpful for me... so remembering daily who I am in Christ, what He’s done for me, remembering I’m forgiven and how much He loves me, are first steps. And for me personally, I need a way to ask for it, receive it, speak it, claim it, catalyze it. So for the past couple of months I have been praying the Daily Prayer by John Eldredge. Pastor has spoken of this prayer many times, so I’m sure many of you are familiar with it, but if not, here is a link to it. http://www.ransomedheart.com/sites/default/files/assets/prayers/daily_prayer.pdf I actually have a CD version of this prayer in my car that I listen to every morning on my way into work. This prayer helps me to center my thoughts and heart on HIM. The words in the Daily Prayer help me to put myself under His authority at the beginning of my day. It helps me to speak out all the truths that my heart needs to believe about what it means to live in the fullness of Christ. Phrases like, “You alone are worthy”, “I honor you as my Sovereign”, “I come to be restored in You”, “I surrender every aspect of my life to You”, “You alone are Life”, “I renounce all other gods, and idols”, “Grant me healing and deliverance and true repentance”, “I now take my place in your cross and death”, “Apply to me the fullness of your cross, death, blood and sacrifice. I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will”. Wow... this kind of praying is powerful! It prepares me to live in the fullness of Christ each day!
Well, this is where the scripture took me today. Lord help me to not use you as a patch, but to fully embrace and receive all you have for me and want to do through me every day. Amen
What are your thoughts for today?
Denise