What If You Already Have Everything You're Looking For?

Today's Scripture

Colossians 2:9-10 (NIV)

9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.

Devotional Reflection

There is an incomprehensibility to what we call the Trinity. God is one. There is only one God, yet He manifests Himself in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Because they are one, even though they are distinct, none is less God than the other.

Christ is the fullness of God. Though He forfeited His divine privilege by taking on the limitations of humanity during His earthly ministry (Philippians 2:6-8), He never stopped being fully God. When Christ died, God died for us. And now, by our faith, we have been given the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. He, the Holy Spirit, is no less God than the Father or the Son. So now, living within us and abiding with us, is the fullness of God. And this fullness was attributed to us the moment we chose to put our faith in Christ. He has given us all of Himself. He holds nothing back.

Though He has given us all of Himself, He retains His own identity. Abiding with us by the Holy Spirit, He retains His voice, His thoughts, and His ways. He speaks to us, guiding us into His truth and leading us in His way.

But we also retain our identity. We commune with God, but we do not become God. The frailties present in our bodies, minds, hearts, and wills are not pushed out. The Spirit works from within us to help reform our thoughts, words, actions, will, and desires so they become more like His, knowing His ways are better for us and those we love. Though we now abide with the fullness of God, we can ignore His voice at any moment. We can reject His commands in the face of temptation. We remain fallible. Our journey is to submit to Him more and more in all we do, allowing Him to work in us to do what only He can do.

The Spirit speaks from within. The Word, creation, and the church speak to us from without. The more we listen, follow His ways, and adopt His purposes for this life, the greater the reformation of our souls. The greater our obedience, the more His character is formed in us. His love, His peace, His power, and His wisdom become increasingly evident in our lives, and we are changed for the better.

The slowness of this process does not fall on God. He has already given us all of Himself. Our growth is not limited by the measure of His presence but by the measure of our surrender. Because He has already given Himself fully, our daily response has been placed in our hands. We have the agency to do what we want or what is right. When we do our part, His part has already been accomplished. So the question we have to ask ourselves is this:

What are we waiting for?

Self-Reflection

If God has already given you all of Himself, what area of your life have you been reluctant to surrender to Him? What would change today if you trusted His way more than your own?

Lectio Divina

Read Colossians 2:9-10 slowly three times.

As you read, ask the Lord:

• Where have I been living as though I lack what You have already given me?

• What part of my life are You inviting me to surrender more fully?

• How do You want Your fullness to be displayed through me today?

Sit quietly before Him and listen for His leading.

Prayer Prompt

Father, thank You that in Christ You have held nothing back from me. Thank You for giving me Your Holy Spirit to dwell within me. Help me to recognize Your voice, trust Your ways, and surrender every area of my life to You. Continue reforming my thoughts, words, desires, and actions until they reflect the character of Christ. May Your fullness be evident in me today. In Jesus' name, Amen.