In the first week of my holiday I sadly finished this undated daily devotional, and recommended it to my wife, who has been enjoying it as well. Hidden in Christ is a powerful, personal and meditatively biblical set of reflections on key words and ideas from Colossians 3:1-17:
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
At the service I gave my life to Jesus in, the sermon was on Colossians 3:1-17, and it is a passage of Scripture that is particularly important to me. This little devotional has confirmed that, as it blends old truth and the shocking grace of the Gospel in Smith’s easy-reading style. Each day has a short reflection to read, an affirmation (which is actually incredibly helpful) and a suggested prayer.
I used this immediately after using and enjoying John Piper’s Taste and See, alongside reading a Psalm a day, and found it to be a very encouraging, thought-provoking and inspiring start to my day. I’d recommend this devotional widely, to Christians both old and new. I’d particularly recommend it to folk looking for a devotional to encourage them in digging into their identity in Christ, which is at the heart of this passage.
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