Christ in You: The Living Anointing

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" - Colossians 1:27 (KJV)

In the depths of every believer's heart lies a profound mystery - a treasure of immeasurable worth. This mystery, hidden for ages but now revealed, is none other than Christ Himself, dwelling within us through His Holy Spirit. It is not merely a doctrine to be understood, but a living reality to be experienced and expressed. This indwelling presence of Christ is the very essence of the anointing that empowers and transforms our lives.

Consider for a moment the implications of this truth. The One who spoke the universe into existence, who calmed the raging seas with a word, who conquered death and rose victorious - this same Christ has chosen to make His abode within you. It is a truth so magnificent that our minds can scarcely comprehend it, yet it is the foundational reality of our new life in Him.

This indwelling presence is not static or dormant, but active and dynamic. Just as Christ did not remain in the tomb but rose in power and ascended to the Father, so too does He work mightily within us. The anointing that rests upon us is not a mere touch from without, but the very life of Christ surging from within. It is the fulfillment of His promise: "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10, KJV).

But how often do we live in the full realization of this truth? How frequently do we draw upon this wellspring of divine life within us? Too often, we live as though Christ were distant, as though the power that raised Him from the dead were not at work within us. We must awaken to the reality of His indwelling presence, allowing the eyes of our understanding to be enlightened, that we may know the hope of His calling and the riches of His glory in us.

The purpose of this indwelling Christ, this living anointing, is twofold. First, it is for our own transformation. As we yield to His presence within, we are changed from glory to glory, conformed to His image. The fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance - these are not qualities we must strive to produce, but fruit we bear as the natural outworking of Christ's life in us.

Secondly, this anointing is for the sake of others. Christ in us is not meant to be contained, but to flow out like rivers of living water. As we allow His life to permeate our being, we become vessels through which His love, power, and truth touch the lives of those around us. In this way, we become participants in His ongoing ministry, fulfilling His words: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father" (John 14:12, KJV).

To walk in the fullness of this reality requires more than mere intellectual assent. It demands a continual yielding of our hearts, a moment-by-moment dependence on His indwelling life. We must learn to move beyond our natural abilities and reasoning, to tap into the supernatural wisdom and power that resides within us through Christ.

Let us then approach each day with a renewed awareness of this glorious truth. Let us awaken each morning with the realization that we carry within us the very life of Christ. As we face challenges, let us remember that Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. As we encounter opportunities for ministry, let us rely not on our own strength or wisdom, but on the anointing that flows from His indwelling presence.

Dear reader, may you never again see yourself as ordinary or powerless. May you never view your life as insignificant or your calling as small. For you are a bearer of the greatest mystery, the most profound reality in all of creation - Christ in you, the hope of glory. Let this truth penetrate the depths of your being, transforming your self-perception, your relationships, and your impact on the world around you.

Let us pray:

Gracious Father, we stand in awe of the mystery you have revealed to us - Christ in us, the hope of glory. We confess that too often we have lived beneath this reality, relying on our own strength and wisdom rather than on Your indwelling life. Forgive us, Lord, and awaken us anew to the power and presence of Christ within us.

Holy Spirit, we invite You to move freely in every area of our lives. Illuminate the eyes of our understanding, that we may grasp more fully the implications of Your indwelling presence. Empower us to live not from our own resources, but from the inexhaustible wellspring of Christ's life within us.

Lord Jesus, we yield ourselves afresh to You. Live Your life through us. May Your love flow through our hearts, Your wisdom guide our decisions, Your power enable our service. Use us as vessels of Your anointing, that Your life might touch and transform the lives of those around us.

We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns within us, Amen.

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

This devotional is based off a message entitle "To Be a Vessel of the Anointing" by Wade E. Taylor.