SHUFFLING THROUGH SHANGHAI
Col. 3:1-4 ¶ If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory.
Parris and I are on a ministry trip in Shanghai, China as I write today’s devotion. Sometimes, amazing things happen when you get out of your normal circumstances and the grind of everyday life. I tend to become more observant to the simple things all around me, and become more aware of the people and the life they live. Shanghai is considered the “Pearl of the Orient”. It is a booming economic hub for Asia and people here are very busy, building their life’s dream. Most of the population here are officially atheist, their hopes and dreams are all in this life. For the born again Christian, our hopes are not confined to this life only. We do have promises of temporal blessings and we do enjoy this present life but our real dreams and life itself are in Christ Himself. Here is something Wuest said about our life as a Christian.
“Commenting on the words, “our life,” Lightfoot says: “It is not enough to have said that the life is shared with Christ. The apostle declares that the life is Christ.” Expositors comments: “This life is not always to remain hidden, it will be manifested at the second coming, and that not merely in union with Christ, for it is Christ Himself who is our Life. This is not to be toned down to mean that Christ is the possessor and giver of eternal life. Paul means quite literally what he says, that Christ is Himself the essence of the Christian life. . . . His manifestation therefore includes that of those who are one with Him. And this can only be a manifestation in glory.” Lightfoot’ says: “The veil which now shrouds your higher life from others, will then be withdrawn. The world which now persecutes, despises, ignores now, will then be blinded with the dazzling glory of the revelation.”
I love what Jesus said about these “two lives” of a Christian. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Jesus was saying that our hearts, the deepest desires of our lives, should become focused on God and His kingdom. When this is our practice, He generously takes care of all our needs and even our wants in this present life. So we are still engaged in the busyness of this present life, we still have our jobs and all our family activities. On the outside, we are doing most of the daily things others are doing. But there is a difference, a huge difference. Christ has become our life. He is our joy, our hope, our love, our peace, our purpose; He has become our all in all. In the midst of our busy lifestyle, we have found the source of life itself.
2 thoughts on “SHUFFLING THROUGH SHANGHAI”
Whew, Hallelujah, I like the way the blog starts already. :). Yes LORD. Well you have me smiling from cheek to cheek, Praising HIM Shouting HALLELUJAH.
Have your way my KING, Hallelujah there is MORE. I
Focus on the only ONE IN ALL THAT’S (IN) ME.
SHOW ME MORE OF YOUR GLORY….’ I’M ALIVE I’M ALIVE (IN) YOU. :):):):)
Love you Pastor Frank and Parris. Lord Protection, strength, guidance, safety, comfort, fill them more till they overflow with Your 9 fruits. Amen.
Have fun, miss you all…Jesus is my Source… Praise Him.. All I know is that I’m not home yet, take this world and give me JESUS. HA.
Thank you. Our lifestyle is very busy. With both of us working and putting our children in school. The schedule seems at times reputicious at times. But during those moments that are not so busy(espeacially on weekends) Christ is being pulled on for our children as well as our own appetites. So thank you for that statement you made because sometimes we feel we would want to do so much more but we are. We are raising olive shoots. These blogs are uplifting and wetting our thirst for him.