Sometimes it Clicks

Pastor Bob quoted this verse tonight and I've heard it hundreds of times, but tonight it came alive in my spirit. Colossians 1:27 "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (The whole first chapter of Colossians is ridiculously mind-blowing in case you haven't read it in awhile, it's worth a re-read.) This is also ridiculously mind-blowing......Christ, the living God of the universe is IN ME! What the? I wish this was more a reality in my thoughts and actions in every moment of life because if I would live as though this were truth, than this verse could finally become more than words on a page. Me: drawn to sin, prone to wander, 'always on my mind', I have hope that the glory of God can be pictured in me. Some of the characteristics I love so much about Jesus could actually be portayed in me. I know most of you who may read this know this already, but if you're like me, you are in awe of this relationship we get to have with Him. I can't get over it really. This makes me sing. This makes me worship in truth. This makes my heart spill with love for Him. This makes my arms physically reach for Him. Man, how redonkulously blessed are we??

I want to remember...really remember. I hope this reminds you too. Thank you Jesus for picking me, for taking my punishment, for choosing to perform this unthinkable act that made me reconciled and at peace with You for eternity. I love You so.

Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12 (NLT)

“See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. Many were amazed when they saw him beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person. And he will again startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not previously been told about; they will understand what they had not heard about.

Who has believed our message? To whom will the Lord reveal his saving power? My servant grew up in the Lord's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave.

But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord's plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.”