January 10th, 21

The Secret is Out

Genesis 25 - 26, Psalm 6, and Luke 10

Jesus is telling a secret and he’s thrilled at the thought of it.  It fills him with joy to reveal the secret.

At that same time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and he said, “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way. (Lk 10:21 NLT)

This secret pleases the Father and fills the Son with great joy.  What’s the secret?  The secret is Him.  Jesus is the way to God, the way of life, what every heart is looking for.  He is the king and he is proclaiming the kingdom.  Jesus is the secret to it all.  It’s not the law, or traditions, or piety that is the secret.  No.  The secret is living in the name and in the power of God.

Seventy-two people are sent out, two by two, in Jesus’s name.  And notice that he tells them not to take anything with them - no bag, no money, no staff - nothing.  The only thing they are equipped with is the name of Jesus. The with-God life is not going to be found through our resources, money, staff, or provision.  No. it’s only going to be found in Him.  So he has them take nothing except his name, his message, his blessing, his presence.  This is the with-God life -  a life of utter reliance on God, being available to his presence and his agenda. When we do that we end up fulfilling the law.  

We will be the people of mercy that we read about here in the story of the Good Samaritan.  We will be fulfilling the law, but it won’t be us.  It will be Christ, the power of his name, his agenda -  Him.  It won’t be our righteousness.  We won’t be the hero. It will be Christ in us.  That’s the secret.  Christ in you. Your hope and glory.

Live in the reality of the secret of Christ in you.  Be awakened to the wonder of what it is step out into the day, simply in his name, not striving, pushing, sweating, fretting over what you think  you need to do, or focussed on your agenda.

Relax into the adequacy of someone who is always big enough for the job. -Major Ian Thomas

You are loved!