March 29 | Bible in a Year: Judges 7–8; Luke 5:1–16

One Sock?

Your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

READ Colossians 3:1–4

Toby, our five-year-old, loves his fluffy green socks with dragon faces on the toes. But one morning he cried, “I’ve only got one sock!” Cue the whole family embarking on a house-wide search-and-rescue mission, pulling out drawers, tipping out toy boxes and turning rooms upside down. But without success. Finally, Toby pulled off his dragon sock—to reveal the other one! He had cheekily put both socks onto the same foot, creating the perfect hiding place. We were exasperated and amused in equal measure!

Sometimes we wish we could find such a clever way to hide ourselves—tucked away and completely covered up. But Paul assures us that we do have such a refuge: “your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2–3). This profound, mind-boggling truth means that we are covered by Christ, even when we feel ashamed or unworthy. His story is now our story: we have already been “raised with Christ”, since “[we] died” with Him by faith (vv. 2–3). His destiny is our destiny: “You also will appear with him in glory” ( v. 4).

Be reassured! Whatever we face today, we’re not left exposed or alone. Jesus has hidden us safely in Himself. Without wanting to trivialise such a profound truth, we’re not unlike that one sock tucked into another—from heaven’s viewpoint, all that’s seen of our lives is Christ covering us with His story and His righteousness.

By Chris Wale

When you’re struggling, what refuge do you tend to run to? What does being perfectly hidden in Christ mean to you?

Covering Jesus, thank You for being my perfect hiding place. I choose to take refuge in You today, knowing that You will meet all my needs.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

When a person believes in Christ, he is joined to Him in His death and resurrection (Rom. 6:3–8; Col. 2:12–13; 3:1). Paul reminds the Colossian believers that their priority—their whole outlook on life—is to consistently focus on the resurrected, ascended, and exalted Christ (3:1); to diligently strive and pursue things that are eternal (v. 2); and to continuously put to death whatever belongs to their earthly nature ( vv. 3–5). Paul not only lists the practices that should no longer characterise the life of the believer, but he asks followers of Christ to embrace the virtues that should clothe God’s chosen people (vv. 12-17).