March 31st

The Fullness of Christ in You 

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.   Colossians 2:6-10 NIV 

The idea of "living in Christ" can be a tough concept to grasp.  Some people think that it means doing good works in order to earn our way into Heaven.  In reality, this is impossible, because all of us make mistakes and the Bible confirms that we cannot earn our way to heaven (Romans 3:23).   

The Apostle Paul used the analogy of a tree to illustrate how we are to be rooted and built up in the power of Jesus Christ….with "thankfulness." Why are we to be thankful? Because Jesus already paid the penalty for our sins and made the way for us to live a God-pleasing life through the Holy Spirit.  

If we decide to live for God, we will experience new joy and fullness in our lives that we never knew in our old sinful state. Where does that joy and fullness come from? It comes from "all the fullness of the Deity" living in us in our "bodily form." Paul was saying that God resides with us and in us when we are living in Christ.  

The reality of this truth breaks the chains of bondage that often surround people like sex addicts.  Jesus Christ, "who is head over every power and authority," lives in us.  We have his power to stand against every evil temptation and habit that has made its home in our minds. As we yield to Jesus daily, the evil that we have pardoned for so long will lose its footing and influence in our lives.  

Questions for further thought:

• What does it mean to make Jesus “Lord” of your life?
• Have you done this completely?  In what areas have you fallen short?
• Can you think of some examples of the “hollow and deceptive” philosophies that depend on “human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ”?
• How could these philosophies take people captive?
• What breaks the power of the lies behind these philosophies? (John 8:31-32) 

Prayer:  “Heavenly Father, Thank you for sending Jesus to die for my sins.  Thank you for sending your Spirit to live in me.  Thank you that I have all the fullness of God living in me today!  If I have believed any philosophies that are not honoring to you, please reveal them to me so that I may confess and repent from them.  Please deliver me from any captivity that the enemy has kept me in.  Please help me to know the truth not just in my mind, but in my heart.  Lord, I want to live in the reality that you are living in me at all times.  Help me to learn and use the authority that you have entrusted to me as an heir of God (Galatians 4:7).  Thank you, Father. I praise your name now and forever! Amen.”