Scripture: Colossians 2:1-3 (TNIV)
I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, buy and for all who have not met me personally. My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, search so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Thought for the Day: Treasure! The word usually conjures images of pirates, deserted islands, and a giant ‘X’ marking the spot. Inevitably, the quest for that sort of buried treasure proves to be a dead end. X never really marks the spot.

Unfortunately, we also usually approach our spiritual journeys like a hunt for buried treasure—looking for a giant ‘X’ that marks Nirvana or spiritual success, or redemption, or whatever we think we’re looking for. Yet while X never marks the spot where the buried treasure is, X does mark the spot where our spiritual treasure is—Christ. By looking for our spiritual X, by connecting with the Christ within, we actually can find Nirvana, or spiritual success, or redemption—what we’re really looking for.

In our spiritual journey, X shows us the way to God—through the Christ, whose name in Greek begins with the letter X (which is why Xmas is actually appropriate).  Christ reveals the mystery of God to us, and brings us into a personal relationship with God, the greatest treasure available to any of us.

Prayer: Mark my heart with your love, my brain with your wisdom, and my soul with knowledge of you, my Loving Teacher, my Glorious God. Amen.