Christ’s spirit in consciousness

Too often, today, Christians settle for a simplistic view of Jesus Christ, one fostered by Sunday school classes during childhood, the advent story at Christmas, or perhaps the joy of an Easter morning sunrise service. But, the Lord’s role and purpose in creation and in us is far more expansive and complex than we realize.

For example, Colossians says “in him all things were created.” This places each human heart “in him.” Rather than seeking our purpose as physical beings scrambling to establish a relationship with a distant Father-Creator figure, this passage asserts that the individuality of His Son is a continuing presence in all of us. It is Christ’s spirit that fills our consciousness with intention and individuality and subjectivity.

But, tuning in to the Lord’s continuing purpose for us does require one thing: surrender. Moment by moment, we must be willing to step back from the natural need to control and manage and defend. Such yielding doesn’t diminish us—it enlarges us. The life we have in him—first, last, and always—makes us better at being who we are!