Living in the Greatness of Jesus
Seeing through the lens of Jesus changes everything.
Devotional Credit: Open Windows, T. Austin-Sparks, from All Things in Christ – Chapter 1
Photo Credit: Unsplash
In today’s devotional from T. Austin-Sparks, we are invited to step beyond the common view of salvation as simply an escape from sin and entrance into heaven. Sparks shows us what Paul saw, a reality so expansive that everything else was counted as loss compared to knowing Jesus Christ. Paul understood that God’s eternal purpose for His people began before the foundation of the world and extends into the ages to come. Our significance as believers is rooted in this eternal plan, not in temporary measures of success or human achievement.
The message reminds us that deliverance does not come from Jesus merely lifting us out of difficult situations. Instead, freedom grows as the revelation of Jesus in our hearts deepens. Just as Paul was gradually freed from the narrow framework of his former life, we are progressively liberated as we behold more of the heavenly Christ. This revelation changes our perspective, loosens our grip on earthly attachments, and lifts our hearts into God’s greater purposes.
Austin-Sparks traces Paul’s journey of release from clinging to nationalistic hopes for Israel. Over time, Paul’s understanding expanded until he could write letters like Ephesians and Colossians, which are filled with the vast, eternal scope of Jesus’ glory and our union with Him. In the same way, we find that everything small fades in significance as we see Jesus in His greatness. Our hearts are steadied, even through trials, when we anchor ourselves in His eternal purpose.
The call is simple yet life-changing: to know the Lord Jesus more deeply. In seeing Him, we see our deliverance, our purpose, and the unshakable foundation that sustains us in every season.
Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I have set you in My Son before the foundation of the world. You are chosen in Him to be holy and without blame before Me in love. Your life is hidden with Him in Me, and I have seated you with Him in the heavenly places. This is not a hope for a distant future, it is your present reality.
You are not bound to the limitations of time or the pressures of the present age. I have placed you into My eternal plan, one that spans from before creation into the endless ages to come. Your deliverance is not by human effort or by My lifting you out of every trial, but by My Son being revealed in you. As you see Him more clearly, you will know true freedom.
Do not cling to what is passing away. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. As you behold Him, you will find that the weight of earthly concerns grows lighter and the richness of your salvation grows deeper. In Him you have all you need to endure, to rejoice, and to live for My glory.
Scripture References: Ephesians 1:4–6, Colossians 3:1–4, Ephesians 2:6–7, Hebrews 12:2, Galatians 1:15–16, Philippians 3:8–10, 2 Corinthians 3:18
Real-Life Analogy
Think about wearing a pair of polarized sunglasses on a bright day. Without them, the glare from the sun makes it hard to see clearly. But once you put them on, the glare fades, colors become richer, and details stand out. In the same way, the revelation of Jesus changes how you see everything. The distractions and false values of the world lose their pull, and you can see reality as it truly is.
Today, when you are tempted to focus on things that feel urgent but are not eternal, pause and let your heart turn toward Jesus. Quietly affirm, “Lord, I trust You to show Your greatness in me and through me right now.” Whether you are navigating a decision, enduring a challenge, or simply going through daily routines, let His revelation shift your perspective and bring clarity to what truly matters.
Prayer of Confidence
Lord, thank You that my life is not defined by the limitations of this world but by Your eternal purpose in Jesus. I rejoice that I am chosen, seated with Him, and secure in Your plan. I praise You for revealing more of His greatness to my heart each day. I rest in the truth that nothing can diminish the fullness of salvation You have given me, and I trust You to express the life of Jesus in me as I walk through this day.