“giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” Colossians 1:12 ESV
Reflection: how do you respond to God when He reveals a truth to you?
It really struck me this morning as I was praying, of how God through Christ is revealing Himself to us. This idea that we are part of the body of Christ, becoming more and more like Him, as we “consume” Him. His body, the word that became flesh and dwelt among us. It is so beyond understanding that God is giving us of Himself. We can, through Christ, partake in His divine nature. Peter writes, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” 2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV
Partaker of divine nature? How does that work?
In many ways, it is of course a mystery. We don’t understand because it is work done by God that is beyond us. But there is perhaps some aspect of this we can get insights into. Notice how Peter says this starts, as He is the one who “called us to his own glory and excellence”. It is a calling by God, who sees to the hearts of man. We cannot fool Him by pretty words. The question is, how do we respond to the revealing of truth? Does it convict us, leading us to repentance and a desire to make that truth part of us? Or, do we just turn away from it, because it requires us to make some difficult changes in our lives?
Paul writes in our focus verse today that it is God the Father “who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” Colossians 1:12b ESV. Is the “qualification” Paul talks about our response to the truth? Meaning, when we stare at truth, stare at Jesus, what response do we have? I think it is impossible to be faced with truth, faced with Jesus, and not have a “qualifying” response.
Either lover of self, or lovers of God.
Paul wrote to Timothy, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV
Just think, God wants to reveal Himself to us, and transform us into the image of His Son, set apart from the corruption that is in the world. When you open up the Word of God today, remember that it is Him, wanting to give of Himself to you. To give you life, to give you part in His divine nature. Every truth you receive, and abide in makes you more like Him.