Colossians 3:4 (CSB)
When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
The Shifting Sands of Human Attachments
When you see a post on social media or a picture of someone’s children and the caption says, “My life.” We understand what they mean. These are the relationships that bring them meaning, joy, love, purpose, and identity. We must be careful here, these are all good gifts from God, but if we build our purpose and identity on them, we’re headed for trouble. Click here to read about the “Sinking Sand of Happiness”.
The Solid Rock of Christ
So why do people love their families so deeply? Is it because they share certain elements of identity, such as last names, genetics, homes, and history? This love comes from shared experiences and communication. The only way Christ can be “Your Life,” is if you have worked on your relationship by spending time with Him in prayer, Bible study, communion, and worship, all with the aim of knitting your heart to Him. This doesn't happen accidentally. It takes purpose, intention, self-discipline, and the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit turning and churning in your heart. When your heart is knit to Christ and you stand on the solid rock of your Kingdom purpose and identity, nothing can shake that firm foundation.
Kingdom Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit
Romans 8:11 (CSB)
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
Now let’s drill down into how we make “Christ our Life.” Thank the Lord we are not left to our own abilities and devices. If this was the case, it would be impossible. As a result of being in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit living in us. And we have the promise from Romans 8:11 that the Holy Spirit will bring our “mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.” That is the resurrection power of God living in you, transforming you from the inside out. All this to say you have the power of God living in you to help you develop your relationship with Him.
You need the power of God working and stirring in you to be able to develop and maintain the habits of your devotion to God. It might seem odd to talk about habits and disciplines in a relational context, but it is through consistency with the power of the Holy Spirit that you grow in your depth of understanding God's love. The good news is, you need a relationship with God, and He has provided all the tools you'll ever need to develop that relationship with Him.
The next time you see a post captioned, “My life,” let it serve as a reminder. As wonderful as these earthly relationships can be, they all come from “the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17). When we work on developing our relationship with Jesus, making Him your life, all other relationships will pale in comparison to the depth of love and the unshakable peace that we find in our relationship with Jesus.