God's Destination for His People

A work of the Spirit began in a city in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. Paul hears about the ongoing response of the people there, and writes them a letter. They have turned to, or the social group they belong to, and  Christ. They have rejected ways and teachings of their fathers. They have embraced Christ, as the way to peace and acceptance by God. They have embrace God's people, and are filled with love for them.

So, Paul's heart is full for God's family in this city. He prays for a heart increase in their lives, individually, and as a body.

What these followers of Jesus are, and what Paul prays for them, are where all of God's people should be going.

God's family are people, who have chosen to follow Jesus. That initial move of faith needs to grow, and increase. Our reliance on his grace, his heart intention for our good, and his actions on our behalf, need to increase.

God has made those, who follow him, his family. Family needs to embrace one another, and serve one another, as an outflow of the heart. We need to see Jesus in the hearts of others, who follow him, and not the name on the door of their building, or the social group they belong to, and treat them as Jesus would.

Then, we need to increase in the areas Paul prays for.

We need wisdom, and insight, to grow in understanding God's nature and character. We need to see more clearly, and deeply, God's love, and mercy on one hand, and God's hatred of sin on the other. But we need to remember God's order. What is the greatest command? And why is it the greatest?

We must gain understanding of our hope. Hope, in the Biblical sense, is a positive view of the future, God's view of the future. Our hope needs to affect our lives. If it was clear, and vivid, in our minds, and hearts, we would communicate with more passion, conviction, clarity, and frequency.

We need to fully understand God's power. It created the world from nothing. It gave life to Jesus after the Cross. Then, it raised him to sit on the throne, and rule over Creation. God put him there, to benefit his family. Jesus fills all things.

Life With God

Some of you might be surprised to learn that I read a book now and then. I recently finished "With" by Skye Jethani.

Many Christians say that following Jesus is not a religion, it is a relationship with God. This book explores that relationship.

The Bible begins with creation. God created the world as a place where he could put people. As a place where he could have a relationship with the people he created. Relationship is built into the fabric of creation. God designed people to have relationship with him, and one another, and to rule over creation in partnership with him.

But the serpent tempted the first people. They saw they could be like God, and take control. But things got out of control real fast. This attempt to replace God broke the relationship with God, the peaceful, predictable world, and introduced fear into man's experience. And religion has sought, in various ways, to relieve fear, and regain control, ever since.

Even, in common Christian responses. The book looks at four common responses. Each response can be backed up with Scripture. So, each response has good things built into it. But, too much of a good thing can be bad.

What the book calls "Life under God" focuses on the Bible's teaching about obedience. Obedience is good. God says that obedience to him leads to all sorts of good things. We are choosing to live in agreement with God's design of creation.

Some assume this is some sort of quid pro quo. Following God becomes a way to manipulate, or control, God. A person goes to church, reads the Bible, and maybe even, tithes. And God should do his part of the bargain.

This, of course, is not really following God. There is no relationship. It is a form of religion, almost of magic.  Following rituals to gain favor from the spirit world.

There's "Life over God," which holds that Christianity is a superior life-style. The Bible is mined for principles that lead to better living. Yes, the Bible does contain principles that if followed lead to better living. Living in agreement with God's design.

Again, it is not following God, because there is no relationship. It is a better morality, or philosophy. 

There's "Life form God," which looks to what God can do for you. It is a focus on receiving God's blessings. And God does bless. I think God wants to bless more than people think.

But, the focus is on the "stuff." Life becomes focused on "stuff." We know who God accepts, or approves, because they have more "stuff."

Again, there is no relationship. One does not have a relationship with a vending machine, even a Vending Machine, with capital letters. Relationship does not focus on the gifts, and ignore the giver, or walk with the giver, as long as the gifts keep coming.

There's "Life for God," which focuses on the mission. And there is a mission. To glorify him. To establish his Kingdom. To proclaim his message, and build movements of followers. To love truly, and abundantly. God created mankind to fill creation with his presence. And that has not changed.

But, as valuable, and noble, a focus on service, and having a role in expanding God's footprint in the world, it is still not relationship. It is a focus on self. It is a focus on one of the partners in this adventure.

Do not misunderstand me. God wants obedience. God wants people to learn right ways to think, speak, and act. God wants to bless abundantly. And God sent Jesus to begin his Father's mission. And God wants his family to partner with him in completing his mission.

But he wants all of these to be done immersed, surrounded, and built from relationship.

I see myself, especially, in the "Life over God." Life is something to figure out, like a puzzle. But I know that the main fuel for life is a relationship with Father.

But if following Jesus is not a puzzle, nor a bunch of rules and rituals, nor some status symbols, nor merit badges, what is it?

How did Jesus do it? Jesus did "Life with God." Scripture says Jesus withdrew often to spend time with his Father. So, prayer and Scripture are part of being with God. And prayer and Scripture could be involved in the other four too.

Praying for God to act in a matter, or puzzling out how God looks at something, is not wrong. But maybe there is something more.

The book talks about "communion." Not in the bread and wine sense, but in the sense of speaking, and listening, about feelings, concerns, failures, hopes, and dreams. People have difficulty being open, and vulnerable. And communion is all about being open, honest, and vulnerable with God. And it is listening, allowing God to speak, and act, in our hearts.

Communion is hard to define, or describe, because we have gotten used to engaging with God on objectives -- solving the puzzle, getting action toward some end -- that we don't know how to sit and be quiet. It takes time. Maybe more than we want to spend. And maybe it will seem like nothing is being accomplished. 

We spend time just catching up with our friends. Maybe we need to spend time catching up with God.

As I said, I tend to focus on solving puzzles. And solving puzzles is not bad. Puzzles need to be solved. But maybe I should also spend time withdrawing, appreciating who God is, what he has done, and is doing, being hones about my failures, lacks, hopes, dreams, and aspirations. And then just listen. Maybe God will speak, and I will receive much wisdom, and encouragement. And maybe God will just sit with me in silence, empathy, and love.

God-given Identity

In one of Paul's letters, he begins by affirming that God has given us every spiritual blessing. And he comments on some of the blessings.

 

The first blessing is God's solution to sin. God planned before creation, that Jesus, one part of the God-head, would become human, demonstrate what a life with God should look like, and give his life as a sacrifice to satisfy God's judgment. Now, those, united with Christ, are accepted by God. They will be set apart, and he will view them with Christ-colored glasses. He will not see their sin. He will make them part of his family. He redeemed them, and forgave them. One picture, the Bible gives us, of forgiveness is putting all our sin on a goat, and sending it away into the wilderness, never to return. Our sin is gone. Our sin, and guilt, are no longer part of our lives. He has showered his kindness on us.

 

Another blessing involves God's plan to give all authority over creation to his Son. And because we are united with his Son, we will receive an inheritance. God made all people, who chose to give him allegiance, his people. He marked the as his people by giving them the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is God's guarantee that we are his people. And it is God's guarantee that we will receive our inheritance.

 

These are indeed reasons for celebration and worship.