August 15 Daily Devotional

28 Jul August 15 Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS

A MYSTERY REVEALED

Colossians 1:27 “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Agatha Christie, Stephen King, Arthur Conan Doyle are three well known mystery writers.  Unnumbered people have read their novels trying to uncover through the cleverly developed clues of these writers who committed the crime.  In general, a mystery is something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain.

The word mystery is found in today’s devotional verse.  All-together, it is found over 25 times in the New Testament.  Most of those occurrences are in the writings of St. Paul.  When the Bible uses the word mystery, and especially when it is found in any of the books written by St. Paul, it refers to a truth that was previously concealed or hidden but has now been revealed by God.  “The content of the divine mystery is painted in broad strokes in the Old Testament, takes on greater detail in the Gospels, and receives its finishing touches in Paul’s letters.” (Baker Bible Dictionary) This Dictionary continues, “Paul also identifies the divine mystery with the revelation of God in Christ ( Col 2:2 ; 4:3 ) but gives the concept even greater clarity in three ways. First, he equates the divine mystery with the gospel of Christ’s atoning death on the cross ( 1 Cor 2:1 ); second, he describes it as God’s plan, through Christ’s atoning death ( Eph 2:13-16 ), to include the Gentiles among his chosen people; and third, he defines it as the reconciliation of all things to God ( Eph 1:9-10 ).

The last words of Colossians 1:27, gives the answer to the mystery.  He is the “hope of glory.” “Christ is the source of the future glory of eternal salvation” (Deterding, Commentary on Colossians) who was promised first to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after they had eaten the forbidden fruit, and then to generation after generation of God’s chosen people throughout the Old Testament.  Finally, after Christ’s resurrection, He commanded this mysterious promise was to be proclaimed, through the Gospel revealing Christ to “all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)  Jesus came and opened up for all God’s plan of salvation, Himself being the heart, center, and core of that mysterious plan.  In Him God reconciled the world unto Himself. (2 Corinthians 5:19)

Prayer:  Thank You Jesus for opening up for me and all people God’s plan of salvation.  Amen.

Speak, O Lord, Your servant listens, Let Your Word to me come near;

Newborn life and spirit give me, Let each promise still my fear.

Death’s dread pow’r, its inward strife, Wars against your word of life;

Fill me, Lord, with love’s strong fervor That I cling to You forever!

Oh, what blessing to be near You And to listen to Your voice;

Let me ever love and hear You, Let Your word be now my choice!

Many Hardened sinners, Lord, Flee in terror at Your Word;

But to all who feel sin’s burden You give words of peace and pardon.

Lord, Your words are waters living When my thirsting spirit pleads.

Lord, Your words are bread life-giving; On Your words my spirit feeds.

Lord, Your words will be my light Through death’s cold and dreary might;

Yes, they are my sword prevailing And my cup of joy unfailing1

As I pray, dear Jesus, hear me; Let Your words in me take root.

May Your Spirit e’er be near me That I bear abundant fruit.

May I daily sing Your praise, From my heart glad anthems raise,

Till my highest praise is given In the endless joy of heaven.

(LSB 589)