The Whole Personality Enriched
Just as a photograph slowly emerges in the developing tray, our true identity is revealed as Christ lives His life through us.
Devotional Credit: In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
Photo Credit: Unsplash
E. Stanley Jones draws our attention to the transformation that occurs when a person is truly in Christ. His narrative takes us to the heart of the Belgian Congo, where physical marks of tribal bondage and cultural limitations are replaced by dignity, wisdom, and grace through union with Christ. In a world that once branded a woman as unworthy because of her appearance and background, Christ brought about a legacy of redemption—seen most vividly in her son, who flourished in intellect, language, and compassion. He embodied the very enrichment that Christ brings to the whole person—mind, heart, spirit, and behavior.
Jones paints a clear contrast between life in darkness and life in the light of Christ. From primitive fear and hopelessness to civility and brilliance, the presence of Christ awakens the full range of human potential. But this isn’t self-improvement or external reform—it’s an internal transformation, a renewal that flows from being placed in Christ. When one is united with Him, limitations—whether cultural, intellectual, or relational—are replaced with His life, His wisdom, His humility, and His forgiveness.
The African boy’s ability to forgive the white classmate who slandered him, and then advocate for his reinstatement, is not mere moral high ground—it is the supernatural life of Christ made manifest. In Christ, the whole personality is not merely improved, but redeemed, awakened, and enriched with eternal substance.
Personalized Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit
My beloved, I did not come merely to patch your life or polish your behavior—I came to make you new. In Christ, your old self has no claim on you; I have exchanged it for a life that is Mine. You are not bound by what others once declared over you. No matter what cultural, intellectual, or relational deficits you once carried, they have been swallowed up in the fullness of My Son.
You have the mind of Christ. You have been given a new heart. Your past—whether branded by shame, ignorance, or rejection—has no power to define you. I define you. I awaken what I have placed in you. In Me, you do not merely learn to forgive—you become forgiveness in action. You do not merely acquire knowledge—you radiate My wisdom. You do not just rise in status—you reveal the grace of the One who stooped low to lift you up.
Let Me enrich your personality—not by the efforts of self, but by the overflow of Christ within. His life through you makes the impossible possible. The world sees the transformation and marvels. And in your yieldedness, they glimpse a new humanity—alive in Christ, empowered by grace, and radiant with the fruit of the Spirit.
Scripture references: Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:4, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Ezekiel 36:26, Colossians 3:10, Philippians 2:5, Galatians 5:22–23
Real-Life Analogy
It’s like watching a dusty, weathered photograph being slowly developed in a darkroom. At first, the details are faint—barely visible. But then, as the solution spreads and settles, a face emerges with startling clarity. The contrast sharpens. What was once hidden becomes unmistakable. That’s what life in Christ is like. The full image of who you were meant to be begins to appear—not because of what you've done, but because of the Light that now defines you.
Prayer of Confidence
Father, I thank You that I am no longer defined by my background, my education, or my past limitations. I am in Christ—and in Him, I have received a life that is full, rich, and whole. Thank You for awakening my true self—the one hidden with Christ in You. Thank You that I don’t need to strive to impress or measure up; I simply walk in the reality of who You have already made me to be. Let Your grace overflow from me today as a witness to the life I now live in Christ.