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Col. 1:19 For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ.
One of the earliest beliefs for Christianity is that Jesus was both fully human and fully God. The Greek philosophers in Paul’s day did not believe this fundamental truth. It was regularly taught and communicated that Jesus could not have been both human and divine at the same time.
Paul refutes — or perhaps, corrects — this faulty teaching in Colossians 1:19. He shares that indeed, Jesus was fully God and fully human.
Consider the implications of this teaching for a moment. This indicates that we have a God who understands our weaknesses as he experienced a human life (Hebrews 4:15). He experienced a life full of pain and suffering (Matthew 27:28-29). He shed tears over the passing of a close friend (John 11:35). He recognized he had limits and could not travel to every town or heal every person with whom he interacted (Mark 1:35-39). Instead, he simply followed the Father’s leading (John 5:19). There are many lessons to glean from Jesus’ humanity. Primarily, in our humanity, we too cannot do everything.
READING & PRAYERS:
JOHN 5:19-30 (also read the commentary notes in your Study Bible of choice.)
QUESTION: Jesus did not reject his humanity. He fully embraced it and lived within his limits. In what ways are you not currently living within your limits? What would it look like for you to slow down, embrace your limits, all while more intentionally following the Lord’s leading?
DIGGING DEEPER: Look at your calendar over the next week or two. Take the opportunity schedule intentional time every day to be with God and pray that You will not agree to things that will stretch you beyond your limits, but will instead follow the Lord’s leading in all things.
Take a Step: Practice listening to God by utilizing the One Minute Pause app at least twice a day.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, today’s reading leads me to question where the line is between laziness and embracing my limits. Help me to recognize that living within my limits is not laziness but is instead more fully living the life You have created me to live. It’s living at the pace of my soul and not the pace of our culture. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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