IN
The “in” thing is whatever is fashionable or whatever is being talked about. Memes, videos, mom jeans, music…..we are drawn to what is “IN.”
Recently at my church, I heard two different sermons (thanks, Jeff and Dennis!) involving Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Reading that verse makes me want to stand and shout and praise my Lord for giving me salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus, God’s one and only Son. It is so freeing! NO CONDEMNATION. Our present society loves to rip people apart and pick out all of their flaws.
If I give my life to Jesus, there is no more condemnation for me from God. I am free of that.
As I sat reflecting on the sermons, I began to ponder the word “IN.” Such a simple word that we use often. Naturally, I googled definitions for the word in. Vocabulary.com defines IN as “when one thing is in another, it is surrounded by or within it, the way chocolate chips are in a bowl of cookie batter.” I like cookie batter, so I searched further. And basically, dictionaries will lead you to the same conclusions:
IN: something that is enclosed in or surrounded by something else; also a function word that aids:
-expressing a time period
-explaining a state or condition
-involvement or inclusion
-used to refer to the key of a piece of music
-used in expressing a value
With these findings, I concluded that as a believer and follower of Christ Jesus who lives IN Him:
I am enclosed by the love of Jesus
I am surrounded by His Holy Spirit
The hands of Jesus hold my time on this earth and for eternity
Within all conditions I find myself, He is trustworthy
Plans involving Him lead to blessings He includes for me
He is the key to my heart’s song
My value and my worth are defined by His design since I am made in His image
Many of our worship songs describe Christ and the Holy Spirit being in us. They are wonderful songs and I am not putting them down. After all, there are many examples in scripture in which we are described as having Christ in us. However, like chocolate chips are IN cookie batter, I want to take it a step further and be IN Christ Jesus. Fully. Completely. IN. Forget about the “in” things of this world and be “IN” Christ Jesus!
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:19
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