To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. (Colossians 1:27-29)
We like mysteries. Suspense excites us. You don’t want to know how the book ends until the last page. You don’t want the movie to start with the director saying, “I just want to give you a heads up: He doesn’t get the girl, the mother dies, and the plane crashes.” No! We want tension. We like mysteries.
Except in one area of life: Love. We don’t like mysteries in love. Have you ever been in a relationship where you didn’t know if the other person loved you? Isn’t that awful? “Does he still love me? Why doesn’t he say so? Why doesn’t she show it?” We like mysteries, but not when it comes to love.
Now take that to a bigger scale. If it hurts to wonder whether another person loves you, here’s the worst mystery of all: Does God love you? Do you ever wonder that? “Look at what’s happening in my life. Look at how much worse my life is than everybody else’s. Does God really love me?”
A group of people was asking that question 2000 years ago: The Gentiles. A Gentile is anyone who isn’t a Jew. Long ago, God chose the nation of Israel to be his people. He promised that the Savior would come from Israel. When Jesus came, he was born and lived and died in Israel. Can you see why this doubt was on the Gentiles’ minds? “It’s great that the Savior came. But did he come for me? Does God love me?”
Paul put an end to that mystery. “God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” “Does Jesus love us too?” the Colossians asked. What was the answer? “Yes! Christ is in you too! Christ died for you too! Christ loves you too!”
It’s a mystery no more! No matter who you are, there’s no mystery about God’s love for you. Jesus proved it on the cross. God loves you!
Dear Jesus, the devil fills my heart with doubts about you and your love. I often feel so unlovable. Fix my eyes on your cross where you died for me and convince me of your love. Amen.
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