The Attraction of Christ’s Life
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. — Colossians 1:27 (BSB)
The difference between striving and resting in Christ is as stark as night and day. The world’s way—our natural tendency—is to struggle, to attempt, to labor in our own strength. Yet, all of our effort cannot accomplish what only Christ can do.
The story of the man whose eye was endangered by a tiny fragment of steel illustrates this truth well. Surgeries failed to remove the problem, only making it worse. But then came a different approach—not force, but attraction. A small magnet, held near the eye, gently drew the fragment out, accomplishing in a moment what countless procedures could not.
This is the beauty of life in Christ. The more we struggle to perfect ourselves, the more embedded the problem becomes. But Christ in us—the hope of glory—is not about self-improvement through striving. His very presence within us is the magnet, drawing us into His rest, lifting us out of sin’s entanglements, and making real the life He already lives within us. Transformation is not the result of exertion, but of yielding to the divine pull of His indwelling life.
Reflection
Are there areas where you are still striving instead of resting in Christ’s sufficiency?
How does recognizing Christ in you change the way you approach growth and transformation?
What does it look like to yield to the gentle drawing of His life instead of pushing forward in self-effort?
Prayer of Confidence
Father, we rejoice in the mystery revealed—Christ in us, our hope of glory. You have already accomplished what our striving never could. Thank You for drawing us ever closer, for the certainty that Your life within is more than enough. In quiet trust, we rest in the gentle pull of Your Spirit, knowing that You will bring to completion all that You have begun. Amen.
📷 Photo credit: Unsplash
📖 Devotional credit: Days of Heaven on Earth