I want their hearts to be encouraged and joined together in love, so that they may have all the riches and complete understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery – Christ. In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3 CSB

I love to read a mystery book. At the beginning there is a problem or situation that can’t be explained or understood. As you read you pick up clues that can help you solve the mystery. Have you read any mysteries? Some are the Nate the Great series, the A to Z Mysteries, and the Clubhouse Mysteries. I always wanted to figure it out before I read the ending.

In our verse for today, Paul is writing to the people at a church in the city of Colossae. He is encouraging them and praying that they can understand and know God’s mystery. In the Old Testament, in Genesis, Adam and Eve walked and talked with God. But when they sinned, did what God told them not to do, they were put out of the garden.  After sin, humans, created in God’s image, were no longer as close to God.

God’s mystery was how to solve the problem so that humans and God could be close again. The Bible is the story of God and His great love for us. And because of this great love, God had a plan, but it was hidden from people in Old Testament times, it was a mystery. But in the New Testament, after Jesus comes, Paul tells us the answer to God’s mystery – Jesus Christ!

Believing in Jesus and all He has done for you, and accepting Jesus as your Savior, and receiving the Holy Spirit means that you can not only be close to Jesus but also close to God the Father. The mystery is solved in Jesus!

All through the Old Testament God gave clues (there are hundreds of them) about the coming of Jesus; from where He would be born, to where He would live, and the things that would happen to Him.

This week I’m going to give you a few verses so that you and your parents can be mystery solvers, too. Look up the following verses in the Old Testament. Talk to your parents about each one and how it came true in Jesus. Micah 5:2, Psalms 72:10, Isaiah 9:1-2, Zechariah 9:9, and Psalms 22:6. Did you figure out the clues?

Blessings and understanding as you discover the answer to God’s mystery – Jesus!