Too often in life, we mindlessly use sacred phrases without contemplating their meanings. Like the Lord’s prayer. You’ve probably recited it a thousand times but have you ever really taken the chance to digest every phrase interwoven in that centuries old meditation?
Just like the Lord’s prayer, Christians tend throw around the phrase “Christ lives in you” without ever delving into its meaning. During our bible study this week, Mr. A and I ran across Colossians 1:27 which says, “..the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God’s glory.” As soon as we finished our reading, I turned to Mr. A and asked him what he thought “Christ lives in you” meant. He stared at me dumbfounded and said, “that the Holy Spirit dwells in you?!?”
Well, clearly, I understood that it means that the Holy Spirit lives in us but what does that really mean? So I pushed him a little further, “Right, I get that babe, but what does it mean to have the Holy Spirit live in you?” He stopped and thought for a really long time before ever responding.
Sadly, such a meaningful and important phrase as this has become so trite that we’ve never stopped to think about what it means in our lives. But after ruminating for a while, we were both able to articulate in our own way how we thought Christ lived in us.
For Mr. A, having Christ living within him means that he is no longer driven by his selfish ambitions. Instead, he is now inspired and led by Christ from within to do great things. The Spirit guides his every thought, meditation, and action. For me, having Christ dwell within me means that I am never separated from God. No matter how long I go between prayers or Church services, I know that God is in constant conversation with me through the Spirit that lives within me. That Spirit encourages me to walk in God’s way always.
So know I turn to you. What does it mean to you to when you hear “Christ lives in you”? Is it a phrase that you hear and repeat without truly contemplating it?
