Being the Beloved - A Monthly Blog from CFDM Northwest
By Rev. Stan Jacobson, Spiritual Director, CFDM Board Chair
I am sitting on our deck watching the sunrise in the east, amazed at its magnificent glory. Golden hour light illumines grasses and flowers. Birds sing their praises to their Creator God. The whole earth seems filled with God’s magnificence and glory.
I read Colossians 1:27. “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. Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The glory of the early morning sunrise is a fraction of the glory of Christ in us. I stand in awe that the Creator of all the universe actually has made God’s home in me, in us. The following translations or paraphrases are from different versions of Colossians 1: 27:
“Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!” (The Passion Translation)
“They are those to whom God has planned to give a vision of the full wonder and splendor of his secret plan for the nations. And the secret is simply this: Christ in you! Yes, Christ in you bringing with him the hope of all the glorious things to come.” (J.B. Phillips Translation)
“God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery, in a nutshell, is just this: Christ is in you; therefore, you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple.” (The Message)
Chapter fourteen of John’s gospel tells us that not only is Christ living in us, but so is God the Father, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity has taken up residence in us! Wow! And not only is our Triune God living in us, but Philippians 2:13 says, “for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (KJV) God is not a spectator, simply watching from the right field bleachers. God is active, God is alive! God is actively working within us, forming, and transforming us into the person God desires us to be.
Seated here on my deck, soaking in the early morning sunrise, I am also soaking in the Word of God through our glorious God. It is with arms and mind and heart wide open that I sit in awe and wonder at God’s intimate power at work within me. Within us all.
Such magnificence and beauty in the Advent season! You might take a moment to remember what brings you to awe and wonder. Maybe you could share with a friend or on the FB page what speaks to you from this reflection.
Post in the comments below or hop on over to our Facebook page and share with one another.