Day 25: That we would enjoy what Christ has purchased
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14 ESV)
Jerry Bridges tells a story in his book The Gospel for Real Life about a Southern plantation owner who leaves $50,000 (a great sum of money in the 1800s) to a former slaved that served him faithfully his entire life. A lawyer of the estate notified the former slave of his vast inheritance. Weeks went by and the former slave never requested any of his inheritance. Finally, they decided to send a banker out to explain to this man what his inheritance was and that he could draw out money any time. The old man replied, ‘Sir, do you think I can have fifty cents to buy a sack of cornmeal’? He could have asked for much more—but he died having only withdrawn 50 cents from a $50,000 inheritance.
I take Paul’s prayer to be that the Colossians (and we) might really come to understand what spiritual blessings we have so that we enjoy what Christ has purchased and not live as if he’s only purchased a little, only redeemed us a little, only forgiven us a little, only triumphed on our behalf just a little. (See more here)
Father, you have given us far more than we can even fathom. We confess that so often we treat your gospel and the gift of yourself as if its but a little. We lament that our churches so often reflect this fact that we don’t truly believe that you’ve given us all of these riches in the gospel. And yet you are still good to us and lavish your grace upon us. Lord, help us to enjoy what You have already purchased on our behalf. Keep us from flitting away our lives trying to earn what you’ve already given. And keep us from being so dense as to live our lives trying to get by on a little cornmeal when you’ve given us everything we need for life and godliness.
