“Before all ages he has loved us, shown most fully in the life and death of Jesus Christ.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – May 5, 2022
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 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. Colossians 1:24-27, ESV
Life is filled with small joys, bringing with them moments of delight and invitations to reflect upon the wonder and beauty of God’s creation. Recently, we added a hummingbird feeder to our front porch, and it is living up to its promise! Several times a day our porch is graced with the presence of this majestic creature, effortlessly hovering while it refreshes itself on the sweet nectar it has found.
As I’ve reflected upon this bird, I’ve noted that hummingbirds are all around us, all the time, hidden in plain sight. The feeder did not create something new that was previously absent, it simply reveals it to us in a new way, allowing us to see reality as we were previously unable to do. I wonder if in some small way this is a window into the life of faith?
St. Paul writes to the Colossian Church, reminding them that his core mission is to reveal something that was once hidden, “to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints” (Colossians 1:26). Never has there been an absence of God’s presence, for the world and everything in it is his and is sustained by his loving care. And yet, the reality of his love and our ability to share in his very life was unknown to us, a hidden mystery.
So often, our lives and actions reveal a belief in the absence of God. We assume he is over there, but not here, not now in this moment of pain or trial. And so often, this belief is revealed in the way we pray, asking God to come and be near to us or to show up in someone’s life. However, I wonder if it isn’t his presence that is lacking, but our own ability to see it?
Whatever situation or circumstance you may be facing, I invite you to pray with these powerful words from Paul on your heart and mind, asking God to reveal the reality of his presence to you. Before all ages he has loved us, shown most fully in the life and death of Jesus Christ. May we all have eyes to see and encounter the reality of that same love today.
Prayer
Father, reveal to us afresh the reality of your presence, bringing to light that which was once hidden, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Application
How might God be at work in your life in unseen ways?
Related Reading
Psalm 25:14; Daniel 2:22; Luke 8:17
Worship Resource
Michael W. Smith ft. Vanessa Campagna & Madelyn Berry: Waymaker
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