Christ in You—the Hope of the World!

Before you start todays devotional, ask the Lord to use it to grow you up in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

How would you like the epitaph of your church to read “Neither Hot nor Cold—Just Lukewarm Christians Lay Here”?

Paul wrote to the Colossians to encourage them to keep their minds and hearts focused on Jesus and to not wane in their devotion to Him. To have Him is to have all you need. In fact, Paul wanted the Colossians to know he believed that so much that he was willing to share in the suffering of Jesus to make certain they embraced that truth. How’s that for being “sold-out” for Christ?

The Lord Jesus Himself called out the believers in a nearby church at Laodicea for growing “lukewarm” in their devotion to Him (Revelation 3:14-22). They had given in to the latest philosophies, false teachings, and empty ideas of the day rather than staying focused on their faith in Jesus. Paul knew that the same fate would befall the Colossians if they refused his urgent word to them.

Paul assured the believers at Colosse that everything they needed for life in God could be known in Christ—to experience all the wonderful resources (“riches”) and benefits of knowing Jesus, all wrapped up in the mystery of God the Father who holds hidden “the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” The same goes for you, too. If you know Jesus as your Savior, you also, like the Colossian, have the riches of God at your disposal—His Spirit, Word, powerful presence, and peace. He is faithful. Jesus is all you need to experience that peace and joy that so eludes most of humanity.

Paul encouraged the Colossians to anchor their faith in Jesus alone. He urged them not only to believe in Jesus but also to “walk in Him” by planting deep roots in the life-giving soil of the gospel. He longed for them to live satisfying lives of stability and faithfulness marked by a heart of thanksgiving. No human philosophy can deliver that. Don’t you agree? Only Jesus Christ brings the real fullness of life. He not only is the source of all those riches, but He is alsothe ultimate prize.

You might also take a few moments to sit quietly and reflect on your readiness to embrace Paul’s teaching. What—if anything—keeps you from fully trusting in Jesus alone for everything you need? Consider that for just a small while before finishing this lesson.

Paul finished with a warning: Don’t trade the true riches in Jesus for the counterfeit wisdom of a self-destructing culture (2:8). If you do, you’ll soon realize you’ve been sold a bill of goods. Look around you—see the heartache and emptiness people experience when they turn away from God. Put your faith in Jesus—He is the fullness of the invisible God in human form. Also … He loves you. So if you have Him, you have everything.

1.What does it tell us about the Christian life that Jesus suffered and that the apostles, who were used by God to lay the foundation of the church, suffered?

2.How can Paul say that believers are the hope of the world?

3.What human philosophies today are prevalent in our world and a danger to the church?

Additional Resources

Listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee's complete teachings on Colossians 1:24-29 and Colossians 2:1-8.