“Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. (Colossians 3:1-2 MSG)
Our visible life, what we can see and feel right in front of us, gets most of our attention. We call this life ‘real’, even though we suspect much of it is an illusion. Like a reality show, it is somewhat scripted, staged, and motivated by audience approval. An authentic spiritual life, however, is invisible, and thus, not amenable to public valuation.
“Your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life...Be content with obscurity, like Christ.” (Colossians 3:3-4 excerpts from MSG)
We often assume that God’s Spirit is tucked away in us like a tiny vestigial organ instead of us being a fragment of an all-encompassing God. We imagine that our life is a big deal, and God is a small part of it--while, in reality, God is a big deal, and we are a small part of Him. We presume that the purpose of life is to fulfill our potential and leave a legacy. Even many of us who claim to serve God, unwittingly call attention to ourselves instead of glorifying God.
When we are hidden in Christ, God becomes more visible. The more obscure our lives, the more God is glorified. Thus, let us be content with obscurity while God takes center stage.
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