12-27-2024

Good Morning All,

    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.” 

    There isn’t much in this life like a good mystery.  Whether you read one or watch one, a really good mystery can be very entertaining.  A really good one gives you subtle clues as you watch or read the story.  As each character develops the intricacies and the nuances which shape and mold him into the story pulls you in deeper and deeper.  When I was in college, there were a couple of guys who belonged to a mystery book club.  They got a new book every 8 weeks or so.  Each book didn’t have the solution; it came separately at the same time as the next new book.

     There are many mysteries in this life.  We like to think that most things we can explain but there are many which we simply cannot.  Some people revel in these mysteries, simply enjoying the existence of events which cannot be explained or truly understood.  We are the beneficiaries of one of these, the greatest mystery that baffles man, God’s love for us.

     Why would the Creator suffer and die for one of his creatures?  What do we get for this love?  How do the blessings of the sacraments work in us?  These are a few of the “mysteries of God.” Our verse speaks of another mystery; that Christ dwells in you.  How does this happen?  We can’t really explain it, but we certainly get the benefit of it.  Because Christ dwells in us, we will be glorified as he is.  We will rise to life eternal.  We, too, will dwell with the glory of God. 

    This is our hope, the hope of glory.  The certainty of living with Christ for eternity.  With Christ in us, we are new creations.  With Christ in us, we receive the blessings of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  We receive the gifts of love, compassion, peace, hope as well as others.  With Christ in us, we receive comfort, consolation, and hope.

    The world does not even begin to understand this or accept it.  This is folly to the world; it doesn’t make any sense.  It is a mystery which can never be understood or explained.  It can only be believed.  It can only be held onto.  God gives us the faith to cling to that hope; the desire to hold on to God’s promise of forgiveness and of eternal life.  It is a mystery, but we hold to it for all our security.

    Life is full of mystery.  The ones which are gifts from God; mysteries that we are the stewards of, are the greatest mysteries of all.  God’s gifts, which we never merit, are given freely to us.  How can we explain this, we can’t.  We can only live with the certainty of God’s promise to us and the certainty of his love for us, for you. 

Father in heaven, the mystery of your love will never be understood.  We thank you and praise you for your blessings and grace.  Keep us close and guard us from all that would harm us.  In Jesus precious name we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret