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It's not about us.
It's all about Him.

Richness in Christ

Words That Burn in My Heart

Where and How Does Riches in Christ Begin?

Where does richness in Christ begin? It began long ago-in the heart of the Father. Even before the creation of the world.

Not only did I exist in the Father's heart, he also had a purpose for me. In fact, he knew the very moment he would birth me out of his heart and into the world so that I might fulfill the purpose for which he created and conceived me. My life and my purpose were conceived in the Father's heart long before I was conceived in the world, to begin my walk with Jesus and to live in richness with him.

But there's more. When I was conceived in the Father's heart he cared about me so much that he placed within my heart the richness of his heart. He placed his very own heart and character within me; he put within me all the things that, when I became all he created and conceived me to be, would be fully expressed in the world around me. The richness of his heart would be expressed through my heart. Such things as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness and self-control. And not just love, but the fullness of his love.

How humble, unworthy yet honored I feel.

Yet, there's more. In the Bible the Father tells me that through out my earthly journey the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord will be upon me, and that he trusts me so much that he has appointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted and to announce freedom to the spiritual captives that they will be released and the prisoners in bondage will be freed. He says that his will for me is a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. He says I'll be an oak of righteousness, a planting of his own for the display of his splendor.

He created me in his heart with a never-ending love, a wonderful purpose, and a faithfulness that endures forever. Oh, the depth of the riches and the wisdom of his knowledge. How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths are beyond tracing out!

How can I ever respond! I can only respond as others responded before me: When I think of the wisdom and scope of the Father's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth! I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give me mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. I pray that Jesus Christ will be more and more at home in my heart as I trust in him. I pray that my roots will go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. I pray that I may have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. I pray to experience the love of Christ, though it is so great I will never fully understand it. I pray to be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from the Father, for I know that by his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. I pray that he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.

That's my response.

And since the Father chose me to be a holy person whom he loves, I clothe myself with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. I seek to make allowance for others' faults and forgive the person who offends me. The Lord forgave me, so I must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing I can wear is love for love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony. And I pray for the peace that comes from Christ to rule in my heart�for we are all called to live in peace. And to always be thankful.

And as I walk the Jesus journey may the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in my heart and make me wise. May I use his words to teach and counsel others. May I sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with a thankful heart. And whatever I do or say, may it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through him to God the Father.

That's where the journey with Jesus and richness in Christ begin. In me�my heart�my home, my walk. My moment by moment walk with Jesus. Not that I may live simply as a Christian, but as one created long ago in the heart of the Father that His Son Jesus may live in and through me to the glory of the Father.