The Glory of God and the Christian Calling

Devotional

Day 1: Christ in You: The Hope of Glory

To have "Christ in you, the hope of glory" means that the very presence of Jesus dwells within believers, making them living vessels of God's glory to the world. This is not just a future promise for heaven, but a present reality—God's manifest presence is now within His people, empowering them to reveal His character and love to those who do not know Him. The hope for the world to see and know God rests in Christ shining through His followers, as they live out His love and truth in daily life. [03:01]

Colossians 1:26-27 (ESV)
"The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Reflection: In what specific way can you let Christ’s presence shine through you to someone who does not know Him today?

Day 2: The Glory of God’s Presence

God’s glory is His manifest presence among His people, a reality that transforms ordinary places and moments into holy ground. From the temple in the Old Testament, where the glory of the Lord filled the house so powerfully that the priests could not enter, to the incarnation of Jesus, where people beheld the glory of God in human form, God continually reveals Himself so that people may know and worship Him. Today, God’s glory is not confined to buildings but is present wherever His people are, as they carry His presence into the world. [04:58]

2 Chronicles 7:1-3 (ESV)
"As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, 'For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.'"

Reflection: Where have you recently sensed God’s presence in your life, and how did it change your response or attitude in that moment?

Day 3: The Power of the Gospel: New Life and Forgiveness

The gospel is the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again, offering forgiveness, new life, and hope to all who believe. This message is not just information but a life-changing reality that brings people from spiritual death to abundant life, regardless of their background or past. When people encounter the love, mercy, and grace of God through the gospel, they find what their hearts have longed for and are empowered to share this hope with others, even in the most difficult circumstances. [13:28]

1 Corinthians 15:3-6 (ESV)
"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the hope of the gospel, and what is one step you can take to share it with them this week?

Day 4: God’s Love Flows Through Us

Human love is fragile and easily broken, but God’s love is eternal and unbreakable. When we are emptied of ourselves and filled with God’s presence, He loves others through us—even those who are difficult to love or who seem unlovable. This is the essence of Christian living: allowing God to use our eyes, hands, and hearts to express His love to the world, especially to those who need it most. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, and as we surrender, His love overflows to others. [25:44]

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)
"For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who is hard to love? How can you ask God to love them through you today, even if your own strength feels insufficient?

Day 5: Saying Yes to God’s Call

God calls each of us to be vessels of His glory and love, and there is no limit to what He can do through a life fully surrendered to Him. Sometimes, the only thing holding us back is our own hesitation or uncertainty. When we say yes to God—no matter how small or large the step—He fills us with His presence and uses us to impact others, often in ways we could never imagine. The decision to surrender and obey opens the door for God’s glory to shine through us and for His purposes to be accomplished. [38:01]

Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)
"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'"

Reflection: What is one area where you sense God calling you to step out in faith or obedience? What would it look like to say “yes” to Him today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered as a family in Christ to reflect on the profound mystery and privilege of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Drawing from Colossians 1, we explored what it truly means for the glory of God to dwell not just in temples or in the person of Jesus, but now within each believer. The glory that once filled the temple in the Old Testament, and was revealed in Jesus in the New, is now made manifest in us—God’s people—so that the world might see and know Him.

We considered the weight of this calling through stories of ordinary people who responded to God’s prompting. A young couple, compelled by the Spirit, left everything to live among a people group who had never heard the name of Jesus. Through their obedience and the presence of Christ in them, a small movement of faith began in a place where the cost of following Jesus was nothing less than life itself. Their story reminds us that the hope of glory for the world is not found in our abilities, but in Christ living through us.

We also looked at the reality that God’s love is not something we can manufacture or sustain on our own. Human love is fragile and easily lost, especially when we are hurt or wronged. But God’s love is eternal, and He desires to love others through us, even when we feel empty or unable. Sometimes, it is only when we are emptied of ourselves—our pride, our anger, our self-sufficiency—that God can fill us with His presence and use us as vessels of His love.

Through personal testimony, we saw how God can restore and renew our calling, even when we feel spent or disillusioned. The story of loving the unlovely, of sitting beside a woman with leprosy day after day, illustrated that the glory of God is most powerfully displayed when we love those whom the world overlooks or rejects. In the end, the challenge is clear: to surrender ourselves so completely that Christ’s life and love shine through us, becoming the hope of glory for those around us.

Key Takeaways

1. The glory of God is not a distant or abstract concept; it is the manifest presence of Christ within us. Just as the temple was filled with God’s glory, so now our lives are meant to be living temples, revealing His presence to a world that desperately needs hope. This is not about our worthiness, but about God’s willingness to dwell in and work through us. [05:35]
2. The hope of glory for those who do not know Christ is found in believers who are willing to go, to love, and to serve—even in the hardest places. When we obey God’s call, even at great personal cost, we become conduits of His love and truth, and entire communities can be transformed. Our obedience may be the only way some will ever encounter the living Christ. [09:42]
3. Human love is limited and easily broken, but God’s love is eternal and unbreakable. When we are emptied of ourselves—our anger, disappointment, and self-reliance—God can fill us with His love, enabling us to love others as He does. This is the essence of Christian life: not that we love perfectly, but that Christ loves perfectly through us. [25:44]
4. Loving the unlovely is at the heart of the gospel. The people who are hardest to love are often those who need it most, and it is in loving them that the glory of God is most clearly seen. When we reach out to those whom others avoid or reject, we participate in the very mission of Jesus, who loved us while we were still sinners. [33:36]
5. There is no limit to what God can do through a life fully surrendered to Him. When we allow Christ’s glory to shine through us, God can use us to call others, to plant churches, and to bring hope where there was none. The invitation is to say “yes” to God’s call, trusting that His presence in us is enough for whatever He asks us to do. [37:23]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Reflections on Age and God’s Faithfulness
[01:46] - Introduction to Colossians 1 and the Hope of Glory
[03:01] - What Does “Christ in You, the Hope of Glory” Mean?
[04:21] - The Glory of God in the Old Testament Temple
[05:35] - Jesus Reveals God’s Glory
[07:01] - Christ in Us: The World’s Hope
[08:26] - The Missionary Call: A Young Couple’s Story
[10:58] - The Cost and Power of Obedience
[13:28] - The Gospel and the Lord’s Supper in a Secret Church
[16:36] - The Longing for Love and the Power of the Gospel
[19:13] - The Impact of Obedience: Christ in Us
[20:35] - Personal Struggles: Losing and Regaining Love
[25:44] - God’s Eternal Love vs. Human Love
[29:07] - Loving the Unlovely: The Leprosy Story
[33:36] - The Challenge to Love as Christ Loves
[34:59] - God’s Glory in the Church and the Call to Respond
[37:23] - Surrender and the Limitless Work of God
[38:38] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Colossians 1:24-27 (ESV) — > Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Galatians 2:20 (ESV) — > I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) — > For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Observation Questions

In Colossians 1:27, Paul calls “Christ in you” the “hope of glory.” According to the sermon, what does it mean for God’s glory to dwell in believers today, rather than just in a temple or in Jesus alone? [05:35]
The sermon shared a story about a young couple who moved to a place where no one had heard of Jesus. What was the impact of their obedience on the people group they served? [09:42]
The pastor described a time when he lost his love for the people he was serving. What did God remind him about the source of true love? [25:44]
In the story of the woman with leprosy, what did the pastor do differently after his experience of being emptied and filled with God’s love? [33:36]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul call the presence of Christ in believers a “mystery” that is now revealed? What does this suggest about the way God works in the world today? (Colossians 1:26-27)
The sermon says, “The hope of glory for the world is not found in our abilities, but in Christ living through us.” How does this challenge common ideas about what it means to serve God? [19:13]
The pastor said, “You’re not in Vietnam because you love the Vietnamese people. You’re here because I love them. And I want to love them through you.” What does this teach about the difference between human love and God’s love? [25:44]
Why is loving the “unlovely” or those who are hard to love so central to the gospel, according to the sermon? [33:36]

Application Questions

The sermon described God’s glory as His presence filling ordinary people. In what area of your life do you most struggle to believe that God’s glory could be revealed through you? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him? [05:35]
The young couple in the story obeyed God’s call even though it was risky and costly. Is there something God has been prompting you to do that feels risky or uncomfortable? What is holding you back from saying “yes”? [09:42]
The pastor shared about losing his love for the people he was serving after being hurt and disappointed. Have you ever felt “empty” or unable to love someone God has put in your life? What would it look like to ask God to love them through you instead of trying to do it on your own? [25:44]
Think of someone in your life who is hard to love or who is often overlooked. What is one practical step you could take this week to show them God’s love, even if you don’t feel like it? [33:36]
The sermon said, “There is no limit to what God can do through a life fully surrendered to Him.” What is one area where you need to surrender more fully to God’s will? How can your group pray for you in this? [37:23]
The pastor described being “emptied” of pride, anger, and self-sufficiency so that God could fill him with His presence. What is one thing you need to let go of in order to be more available for God to use you? [26:25]
When have you seen God use someone’s obedience or love to make a difference in your life or in the life of someone you know? How did it impact your understanding of “Christ in you, the hope of glory”? [19:13]

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The Glory of God and the Christian Calling | Colossians 1:24-27