January 11, 2005
Complete
I’d like to let my mind wander onto thoughts of Christ for a moment.
What a wondrous redemption is in Christ Jesus! Colossians 1 is exactly what I needed today. I planned to read through the book this morning. But when I read, “in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” The Holy Spirit began to press me to dwell on Christ this morning.
COMPLETE IN THEE
If we want to know God, we must know God in the flesh. It’s that simple. Christ is our opportunity to fellowship with God. Yes, opportunity. I say opportunity, because we miss chances to view Christ. Our flesh-fed, self-focused, world-loving gaze hinders a full view of our God. Take a minute and think through even some of the small points of your relationship with God. These things are amazing and eternal and great and life-changing. Not because of anything we have done. Not because we approached God and let Him do these things, but because Christ did these things. We are simply partakers in this phenomenal act. Let that thought revolutionize you. We are wretchedly fallen. We were not even fit to enter His presence, but Christ “qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”—Col. 1:13-15. We have access to the Father through Christ; we were alienated because of our sin, but Christ “has now reconciled [you] in His body of flesh by His death.”—Col. 1:22. We enjoy all the blessings of unity, service, fellowship, graciousness and need-meeting in the church of God, both local and universal, because, “He is the head of the body, the church.”—Col. 1:18. We are made at peace with Him “by the blood of His cross.”—Col. 1:19. We have a glimpse of the All-Holy, because in Christ we see “the image of the invisible God…”—Col. 1:15. We are able, because of Christ, to view our difficulties only as ways to show off Christ’s work; we “rejoice in…sufferings for your sake.”—Col. 1:24. We enjoy the privilege of knowing Someone that others only looked forward to, because our Christ is, “the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to His saints.”—Col. 1:26. We grow into maturity through knowledge of the Son, because “Him we proclaim…that we may present every man mature in Christ.”—Col 1:28. We are energized in Christian work, “for this I toil, striving with all energy which He mightily inspires in me.”—Col. 1:29. We are able to continue, always growing into Him, someday that we might be presented “mature in Christ.”—Col. 1:28
HYMNS TO REMEMBER HIM
COMPLETE IN THEE
1
Complete in Thee, no work of mine,
may take dear Lord the place of thine
Thy Blood Hath pardon bought for me
and I am now complete in Thee
Chrous
Yea justified, O blessed thought,
and sanctified salvation wrought
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me
and glorified I too shall be
2
Complete in Thee each want supplied
and no good thing to me denied;
Since Thou my portion, Lord, will be,
I ask no more, complete in Thee.
3
Dear Savior when before Thy bar
All tribes and tongues assembled are,
Among Thy chosen I shall be,
At Thy right hand, complete in Thee.
AND CAN IT BE
1
And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God shouldst die for me?
2
He left His Father’s throne above,
So free, so infinite His grace!
Emptied Himself and came in love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me.
3
Long my imprisoned spirit lay
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.
Thine eye diffused a quick’ning ray:
I woke—the dungeon flamed with light!
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
4
No condemnation now I dread:
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Chorus
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!
NEAR THE CROSS
1
Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.
Chorus
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
2
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.
3
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.
4
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.
OMNIA EST CHRISTUS
Christ is all and in all.