Wed.'s Devo - Christ in You

Read Eph. 6:19
This verse is Paul's prayer for himself as an apostle over so many churches. He prays that God would give him the words to say so that he might have the confidence to speak about the mystery of the gospel. So what is this "mystery of the gospel"? Romans 16:25 says that this mystery was kept secret since the world began, but has now appeared in the teaching of Jesus. This mystery according to Eph. 3 has to do with the Gentiles being grafted in. In Eph. 5 it has to do with the church and how it is like a marriage: the two shall be one. But in Col. 1:26 I think we get the best description. It says that God made known to us the riches of the glory of God to the Gentiles which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory.
God's plan from the beginning was to bring salvation to the world. He chose a small group of people: Abraham and Sarah to show how he relates and deals with his children. They were to be examples to the world of a people set apart for God. They failed miserably, just as God knew they would, because they were under the law which brings death. God then sent Jesus,at just the right time, to save us from the hopelessness of sin and invite everyone into his family. He died to bring us that salvation, then sent the Holy Spirit to dwell in us. Now we can beat sin and succeed because we have the power of the Holy Spirit inside us. This is the mystery of the gospel. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit was "on" certain people but now he is "in" us. That is why nothing is impossible to those who believe.
Lord, thank you for your great plan. I can't imagine not having the Holy Spirit inside me and am so grateful that I am living in the days of grace. May we live as people of grace and power who know who we are in you.