Series: Jesus Manifesto
Message: Getting the Mystery Revealed
Preacher: Rebecca Murdock
Reflection: Japhet De Oliveira
Live Wonder: Zan Long
Live Adventure: Zan Long
Live Beyond: J. Murdock
Live Purpose: Lydia Svoboda
Editor: Becky De Oliveira

Refresh: Begin with prayer. Ask for the Holy Spirit to open your heart to new understanding and for God’s character to be revealed.

Read: Colossians 1:24-2:3 in The Message (MSG). Note 1–3 insights or questions. 

Reflect: I do appreciate the Message paraphrase. This is not simply a positive statement about the paraphrase, but points out that the author did an exceptional job of taking the essence of Paul’s intention and applying it to our language today. Consider these words:

I want you to know how glad I am that it’s me sitting here in this jail and not you. (Colossians 1:24) 

Despite the most horrible conditions, Paul was happy that he was the one in jail and not the members of the Colossian church. I understand that emotion. You probably can relate to it as well, especially if you have had a child or a loved one. 

We had some neighbors when my boys were young who had a few kids a bit older than my youngest son, Jonah. The boys all enjoyed hanging out together. It was a typical summer weekend. The boys would be in and out of our house all the time. For some reason, I had to step out of the house, and I would often exit through the garage. As I entered the garage the two neighbor boys froze. They stared at me in horror and fear. I sensed something was off—and then I heard the shouts of Jonah. They had dared him to get into the trunk of the car which they proceeded to shut and lock I was horrified. I opened the trunk right away and found Jonah on the verge of crying. He was scared. I glared at the boys and asked them if they would like to be locked in a car trunk. I told them this was beyond a joke and sent them home. 

Here is the reality. If I could take the memory away, I would. If it meant that I had to be locked in the trunk of a car for a day instead of Jonah, I would. I feel this way about all those I love. I don’t like people to suffer and I would rather take on all manner of suffering if it meant they wouldn’t need to. 

The Apostle Paul understood the value of the Gospel story. He wanted the people to not have to live in pain. He wanted them to be free, to have the shackles of guilt and earning salvation be removed. He would rather take all that on himself than see anyone else experience it. 

Recalibrate: What is our responsibility in sharing the Gospel? Is it a tag team relationship with Jesus? Is this a reasonable expectation or is it an exciting challenge? 

Respond: Pray for the chance to live the Gospel today. 

Research: Read Romans 10:14-15 and then the entire chapter. 

Remember: “This truth is Christ Himself, who is in you. He is our only hope for glory” (Colossians 1:27, ICB).

Japhet De Oliveira is administrative director for the Center for Mission and Culture at Adventist Health in Roseville, California.

Go on a picnic with your child. Plan one outside or have one inside on the floor. Grab a bag and collect all the things you want to have on your picnic. A blanket, some food, your favorite toys, a sun hat, and whatever else you think is needed for picnic fun. When you are all packed and ready to go, ask your little one to choose a place for the picnic. When they have chosen the picnic spot, you carry all the stuff to the picnic spot. Love does the heavy lifting. Love steps in and does what is needed for the ones we love. Know that Jesus has done all the heavy stuff for us. He longs for us to choose to be with him. Invite Jesus to be your guest at your picnic. Have fun and enjoy.

When I was a little girl, going to the dentist was not fun. My dentist was not good and it hurt. My mom would tell me that if she could, she would take my place. That is what love does. Love wants to help always so that the one you love is free from hurt. This is what Jesus did for us. How can we help someone today who is hurting? 

I once opened a lemonade stand on the cul-de-sac where I grew up to raise money during our neighborhood’s block-wide yard sale. After subtracting the cost of the lemonade and the cups, I had earned $20 for my hard work. That night I dreamt of all the things I could buy with my fortune! The next day I was supposed to go to Toys-R-Us to make my purchases, but it was raining so the trip was postponed. I was so afraid of losing my money before heading to the store that I decided to hide it. The next weekend came around, and the weather held up so my parents said we could go. When I went to go find the money I had stashed, I could not remember where I put it. I looked everywhere! After all my efforts to find the money, it was deemed lost. Forever.

I still haven’t figured out where that money went. It remains hidden. All because I was afraid of losing it. 

In Colossians 1:26, Paul talks about how there is a mystery of God that was hidden from the people for a long time. But now, the mystery has been revealed in the life of Christ. The key to eternal life is no secret; it’s having a relationship with Jesus. For people who thought there was a long list of things they had to do and say in order to be saved, this was a shocker! It was as if they were given the coordinates to a buried treasure thought to be lost forever. A lifetime of riches was at their fingertips! 

What is something you are keeping hidden? What would it take to bring it back out again? What do you think Jesus could do with the things that are hidden if you gave them over to Him?

“To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me” (Col. 1:29). We are so weak, no matter how good our intentions may sometimes be. We simply cannot do all that we want to or all that we believe we should. We can’t make ourselves happy or others happy forever on our own. We wear down and grow tired and overwhelmed. But with Jesus, there is a new energy that sustains us and is capable of enduring anything—it even changes our hearts and desires—it sets us on the path of true and lasting joy.

Zan Long is GRC director for faith development for ages 0-17. She lives in Sydney, Australia, and serves at her local church in nearby Kellyville.
J. Murdock is associate pastor at Boulder Adventist Church in Boulder, Colorado, where he focuses on youth and young adult ministry.
Lydia Svoboda is a junior theology major at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.