Not in Until They Get Out
Christ’s life in us is like a candle—once lit, its fragrance naturally fills the space.
Devotional Credit: In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash
E. Stanley Jones delivers a striking reminder: the life of Christ within us isn’t meant to be stored, but shared. Paul, in calling the Corinthians to imitate him, reveals that a genuine life in Christ is always reproductive. It gives. It invites. It multiplies. Jones emphasizes that evangelism is not merely a church program but the natural outflow of a changed life. The clearest evidence that Christ is in us is that we are drawing others to Him.
He recounts the powerful story of a broken army colonel who, after finding Christ, was at first hesitant to speak. But once he began to witness from the heart, life began flowing from him to others. He couldn’t stop. His transformation was sealed not only by the receiving of Christ, but by the sharing of Christ. That was the moment he moved from inward survival to outward surrender.
Jones’s phrase, “they are not in until they go out,” is not a theological slight—it’s an experiential observation. Christ’s life is inherently contagious, and when we truly receive Him, we cannot help but overflow. Preaching may impress, but witnessing from the heart touches and transforms. We are not meant to remain spiritual consumers but conduits—channels of the life we’ve received.
💬 Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture
I did not breathe My life into you so it would remain sealed. I gave you My Spirit so rivers of living water would flow from your innermost being—not trickles, but torrents of grace that nourish dry places around you.
When I brought you into Myself, I also sent you. As the Father sent Me, so I send you—not in your strength, but in Mine. You carry not merely a message but a Person. I am the Life within your life, the Word behind your words, the Love that compels your every step.
You are not asked to perform, only to pour. I do the convincing; you simply bear witness to what you’ve received. And that witness is most powerful when it is raw and real—when it comes from the heart. Do not wait until you feel ready. You are already complete in Me. You do not need eloquence, only openness.
When you speak of Me, even in weakness, I am the strength that speaks. When you point others to Me, I am the Way they walk. So go—not out of obligation, but because My life in you must go out. It cannot be confined. It is not truly in until it is shared.
Scriptures referenced: John 7:38; John 20:21; Colossians 2:10; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Romans 10:14–15
🔑 Real-Life Analogy
It’s like lighting a scented candle in a quiet room. At first, the light flickers gently, just for you—but in moments, the fragrance fills the entire space. You didn’t try to spread it; it simply happened because the candle was lit. So it is with Christ in you—once lit, His life moves outward, effortlessly touching those around you.
🙏🏼 Prayer of Confidence
Jesus, I thank You that Your life in me was never meant to remain bottled up or buried in silence. You are alive in me, and Your life is uncontainable. I trust You to express Yourself through my words, my witness, and even my weakness. I don’t need to have all the right answers—I already have the Right One living within me. I rejoice that I don’t have to manufacture boldness; You are my boldness. You are the fragrance, the message, the life. I rest in the joy that I am not only in You, but You are living through me—even now.