Session 7

These two things will change your life

From Colossians: A 28-Day Devotional

Ever feel like God is distant? Like you’re playing a cosmic game of hide and seek?

The truth is that more often than not, we’re walking right past God like the kid who doesn’t see you "hiding" in plain sight.

God wants us to know and grow closer to Him. And through Jesus, God made Himself known to everyone. That’s the message in Colossians 1:27.

"God wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this: Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory" (Colossians 1:27, MSG).

God wants us to know Him, and through us, He wants others to see Him.

There are two practices that, if we commit to, will increase our understanding of who God is and help us see His heart. The first you’re already doing, and that’s reading the Bible.

The Bible is God’s Words on paper (2 Timothy 3:16). As we read, we learn what matters to God, who He says He is, and the lengths He was willing to go to be in relationship with us. We learn how the world was designed to work, and in Jesus, we see a perfect picture of what it means to live for God.

The second practice is finding friends who are also friends with God. Paul cared deeply about the Colossian church. He loved them enough to want more for them than just a good time. He was willing to proclaim the truth, warn them when they were getting off track, and teach them the Scriptures.

Paul desired that his friends wouldn’t just know about Jesus. He wanted them to grow into mature followers of Jesus.

If it feels like God’s hiding, we don’t have to go too far to find Him. If we’ll open His Word and turn to His people, we’ll find He was right there all along.

Reflect:

• Where do you turn when you feel like God is distant? How has that strategy helped (or not ) in the past?
• Who is "Paul" in your life? Is there a person or group of people investing in you and helping you mature in your faith?
• What’s one way you can invest in someone younger or less mature than you?