Your Life Is Hidden with Christ in God
John Chrysostom, fourth-century church father, was brought before the Empress Eudoxia.
She threatened him with banishment if he insisted on his Christian independence as a preacher.
“You cannot banish me, for this world is my Father’s house,” Chrysostom replied.
“But I will kill you,” said the Empress.
“No, you cannot, for my life is hid with Christ in God,” said John.
“I will take away your treasures.”
“No, you cannot, for my treasure is in heaven and my heart is there.”
“But I will drive you away from your friends and you will have no one left,” Eudoxia vowed.
“No, you cannot,” Chrysostom replied, “for I have a Friend in heaven from whom you cannot separate me. I defy you, for there is nothing you can do to harm me.”
Tiny Tyrants in the Hands of Our Almighty God
Re-reading this account today in Tullian Tchividjian’s Jesus + Nothing = Everything was like an epiphany.
Nothing happens to us that does not come through our Affectionate Sovereign.
The heart of the king is in the hand of the King of Kings.
People may intend their actions for evil. However, God reshapes them for good—for His glory and our good—our conformity to the image of Christ.
The tiny tyrants of this life may think they wield power, but they are eternally mistaken.
You are never powerless—the Almighty Creator is your Friend.
You are never voiceless—the Infinitely Loving Savior is your Friend. 
No one truly has power over us unless we cede them power that belongs only to the King of King.
When knocked on your knees by life’s tiny tyrants, look up—straight past the tiny tyrant to Christ. Raise open palms of submission—not to the tiny tyrant, but to Christ.
To the tiny tyrants of this life, you, too, can say, “I defy you, for there is nothing you can do to harm me.”
Your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).
Join the Conversation
What tiny tyrant do you need to see in the hands of your Almighty God?
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