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. He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. 

Colossians 1:27-29

Anxious and excited both described my feelings on our grandson’s first day of kindergarten. My daughter relayed he had gotten up early and they had made it to the front of the drop off line. He delighted me by face-timing me while they waited in the car.

Afterwards, the clock seemed to move extremely slow as I waited for the news of what he thought about his first day of school. Finally, a text message came.

What had highlighted his day? When he got inside the building someone directed him to the breakfast line and he got to “order” his own breakfast. Now, he had already eaten breakfast at home, but he got to pick out a delicious cinnamon roll at school. 

Out of everything he experienced that day breakfast made the most impression on him? That made no sense to us.

Sometimes the world views a Christian’s joy in this same way. People who have not accepted Christ as their Savior may not understand the delight of following him. With the pull of so many other things in the world, the excitement of Christianity may seem like a mystery. It just may not make any sense.

As Christians, we must share our joy with those around us. They await our explanation. If our message is met with confusion and surprise, the opportunity to explain may just open the door of salvation to others. With the Holy Spirit’s leading, the joy of Jesus no longer remains a mystery.

The mystery, Christ in us, needs to go out to all of the world. As Paul says in Colossians, we must proclaim it to all. God, thank you for providing us with the energy to share this message and clear up any mystery.

Susan Partida