~ written by Connie Dunmyer
I love a good mystery movie, don’t you? It puts all my puzzle-solving-thoughts to the test. I even fancy myself a mini-Sherlock-Holmes of sorts. I go back and forth through all the clues trying to solve “whodunit” before the end of the movie or series.
Who could ever forget “Shutter Island’s” classic ending, or "Murder on the Orient Express" or “who killed Laura Palmer” in Twin Peaks, and the all-time-whodunit … “who shot JR” on the “Dallas” TV series.
I also like the "Columbo" and "Elsbeth" type of mysteries, where you know at the beginning “whodunit”, so you watch as the murderer tries to hoodwink the investigator.
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul talks about another mystery. A mystery kept hidden for generations.
25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness — 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery...
The word of God in its fullness is the mystery.
The mystery was hidden for ages and generations.
The mystery is now disclosed to His people – even to us Gentiles.
The mystery is worth glorious riches.
Note that not everyone will hear or understand this mystery. It cannot be solved by the world or its standards. It is disclosed and only solved and understood by the people of God… those of us who have said “Yes” to Jesus, and been grafted in, adopted into the family of God.
Ok. So now to the end of the movie, the solution, the “whodunit”. What is the mystery?
27 ……. the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The mystery is: CHRIST IN US!
This mystery is the hope – the only hope – of glory.
I think as Christians – esp. those of us who grew up in the church – I think we have taken this mystery, this miracle for granted. I may banter about with words like “Jesus lives in me”. Or I may talk about being filled with the Holy Spirit. But do I live each day like this amazing, mysterious miracle has actually taken place? That each day is a miracle BECAUSE Christ is living IN me. Not around me. Not above me. Not below me. Not next door or down the street. Not in the church. BUT IN ME.
I cannot glory in myself. I cannot glory in anyone else. I cannot hope in myself. And though I may try, I cannot even hope in anyone else. My only hope, our only hope, the only thing we have to glory in, is Christ in us! Which is an amazing thought.
So how do I live my life differently with this knowledge of “whodunit”? If I know “whodunit” in a mystery movie, I watch with anticipation as each clue is revealed. Like layers. I watch how others perceive (or don’t perceive) the clues. But as each “clue” is revealed – I get more and more excited at the prospect of the mystery solution being identified.
Do I live my life in this same way?
Since I know “Who” done it – Jesus – do I watch with anticipation each day as He reveals “clues” or scripture to me? Do I anticipate each day as the day He will be revealed in my life? Do I watch, or try to help others perceive the clues? Or do I simply get frustrated and angry that they don’t know the “Who” in “whodunit”?
Each day should be a day of revelation – revealing another layer – another clue – another hope – of God’s glorious mystery, which lives in me … HE, Jesus Christ, miraculously lives IN me! So what I do, what I say, what I think, is Him. And should be ONLY a reflection of Him.
20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
It is not possible to explain to those without eyes to see. It is a mystery to be sure.
But with time, and the prompting and enlightening of the Holy Spirit, the darkness is dispersed, and the light begins to permeate and warm the soul, and revelation begins to take place as the “clues” begin to fit together like a puzzle – and another soul is now reclaimed as the mystery of Christ living in them takes place.
Paul continues his letter to the Colossians in verse 29:
29 To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
Ok. Wow. Even in this, his teaching and proclaiming, Paul recognizes that even he couldn’t do it on his own. As smart as he is – as much as he knows – the only way he does anything is because of CHRIST’S ENERGY, not his own. But Christ’s energy IS working powerfully through and in him.
And so Christ does within me.
Paul did not have anything that I cannot have. As can anyone of God’s people. If I say “Yes” to Jesus each day, then each day I can expect Christ’s energy to work powerfully in me. And so it is with you, as well.
My life has been exhausting lately. I’m as tired when I wake up as when I go to sleep. As welcome as sleep is, it’s not particularly restful. But Jesus, HIS ENERGY, is what’s working in and through me. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
My Prayer: Thank You that YOUR grace is enough. Thank You that I don’t have to do this in MY energy – which may be non-existent at this point. You want to show me that Your grace is enough. When I have had to do things I didn’t think possible – over and over and over again – You have proved Yourself true – CHRIST IN ME!! I knew You would grant me the grace needed. And You have. And it’s not over. And yes, I’m tired. But You have shown me things I would’ve never seen or known. And I know it’s not me. I know – I can feel – that it is You. Thank you for being the One “Whodunit” in my life and for revealing Your longtime mystery to me. It is encouraging. It is lifegiving.
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