Christ in You

Up until that time, I had never faced such a major challenge in the classroom. Any problems I had encountered had been easily resolved. But this was different. Staring at the book in front of me, I tried in vain to figure out the complex math I was wrestling with. But as this was unlike anything I had ever seen, I simply didn’t know what to do. I had only just been promoted to the fourth grade and had come up against what appeared to be an impenetrable roadblock. It was then that Mrs. Mounsey came to my rescue. She was a wonderful, caring teacher who took time to ensure that I understood my work and was making good progress. I had skipped a grade and entered her fourth-grade class just in time to discover I was in over my head when it came to math. But in moments, Mrs. Mounsey’s patient, expert instruction solved the arithmetical mystery, and I was running again at full speed. Christianity operates on a similar principle. Until a follower of Jesus is shown how to unravel the mysteries of living a life of faith, he or she will struggle to make any forward progress. The apostle Paul described the mystery of the gospel as being “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Without the actual presence of Jesus Himself in a life, the best that can be hoped for is a frustrating up-and-down existence of struggle and failure.

A life without “Christ in you” is a life lived by one’s own wits.

Willpower is the enemy of faith. Until it is understood that the key to successful Christian living is Christ in the heart, a sinner can only fall far short of a consistent Christian experience. “Christ in you” is the power of Christianity.

Jesus brings His righteousness into the life of a believer.

He brings His obedience. He brings His peace.

When Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5), He meant what He said. The only successful path forward for any follower of Jesus is “Christ in you” —Jesus in the heart.