Who doesn’t enjoy a good secret?
Well, the most read book of all time, the Bible, reveals the greatest secret of all.
Recently, I picked up the first Bible study I wrote, The Secret is Out, a study based on the book of Colossians and was reminded of just how much God loves us by sending His only Son—the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15) and the power that mightily works within us (Colossians 1:29).
Yes, the secret is Jesus Christ!
The secret is not that the Gentiles would be saved, for the Old Testament gives evidence of that (Isaiah 49:6), but how they could be “fellow-heirs.” In Paul’s day, this was a revolutionary idea—that the believing Jews and Gentiles could be joined together as one.
Too little is made of the inheritance that we have received as children of God. We may not be able to enjoy much of this inheritance until we get to heaven, but we will be able to enjoy some of it in the here and now.
In the NASB, Psalm 16:6 says, “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places. Indeed, my heritage is beautiful to me.” In this psalm, David speaks of the joys and benefits of a life lived in companionship with God. He compared God’s blessings to the best inheritance a person could receive in the present. The Lord had truly given him a wonderful, full life. And He has given you an abundant life. (see John 10:10).
God wants to give us blessings as we walk this journey with Him here on planet Earth, continuing to seek Him and obey His instruction and not turn away from Him. Enjoying His permanent presence is a gift in itself. And when we enjoy His presence in our lives, we have a quiet confidence as observed in Peter and John in Acts 4:13, “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”
Being with Jesus changes everything. It changes our perspective, attitude, and compassion.
Your relationship vertically will impact your relationships horizontally. Your internal relationship with Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, will give you indescribable power.
How is your relationship with Jesus? Are you experiencing the nearness of God and enjoying your walk with Him?
How are you loving others around you? Do you want to display Jesus in a loving way? Then begin to love those who are easy, along with those not so easy to love. Begin to love others in view of eternity. You will draw others to Jesus by your loving attitude.
Nonetheless, we can only live like this because we are hidden in Christ with God (Colossians 3:3).
Why are we hidden? Well, the union that exists between Christ and His people is hidden from the eyes of the men and women of this world. Though they see us going about our daily tasks, they are unaware that our strength and confidence, by which we live and move and have our being, is drawn from God. That is why it is so important to reach up to God daily for our strength—so that we will be able to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8)
What others see is the tip of the iceberg. They can’t see what lies beneath the water line. Because we are hidden in Christ, we can find strength down deep—where others don’t see.
And the secret which is, Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27) will give you power to live an extraordinary life.
Knowing the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God and trust Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to His power that works within us (see Ephesians 3:19-20).
Why keep this a secret? The secret is out!
It’s your responsibility to learn the Word of God, live it out in your everyday life, and pass it on to others so they can experience the love of God, the grace of the Lord Jesus, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (see 2 Corinthians 13:14).
Journeying with Him,
Jessie
If you would like to study Colossians further click here