Where are you?

I have spoken a bit of times about this "connecting" theme and the associated inherent desire and need for "relationship". The strong belief that God created us with this as a part of our DNA.

At times the struggle that I find people often have is with the thought that God would "want to" be in relationship with them. This feeling that "I" could never be good enough. That God is so Holy that He continues to be separated from us and that He is more interested in looking for what we do wrong to punish us, rather than long to be in relationship with us.

Well, if you find yourself in that category, or have been there and wondered whether He was really interested in relationship with you, then I think I have a verse from the beginning of creation that spells this out quite clearly. Most would be familiar with the creation story as recorded for us in the first two chapters of Genesis. This is then followed by what might commonly be called "the fall" or the record of "man and woman sin". Now one of the things we understand early of God is His all knowingness (omniscience), nothing is hid from Him. In fact, parents have often used this in an attempt for their children to be good, "you know He (God) knows!". And yet, here is the verse that follows the account of them (Adam & Eve) sinning, being disobedient to an instruction given from God:-

⁸ When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God.
⁹ God called to the Man: “Where are you?”

God comes looking for Adam & Eve, the impression is that this is a regular thing, He comes strolling through the garden. Now they are only too aware the impact of sin (their disobedience) upon their lives. The innocence of being naked is lost and they attempt to cover themselves and hide themselves from the sight of God, their Creator. But God seeks them out - "where are you?"

 Furthermore, the thing that stirs me more and more as I spend time in the presence of God, is that He continues to be interested in me, in relationship with me. Still it puzzles me. Still I might question why, but the Gospels remind me I am His child. I am valued in His sight. He created me with purpose and in love and makes provision that I might find a way into His presence all the time. (This includes you too).

I am a sinful being, not any different to Adam and Eve in so many ways. I make mistakes, I get things wrong. I might not always be obedient. But I am grateful for a loving and gracious God who calls out to me, "Andrew, where are you"?

 

Lifeling Journey

Well here we are in a new year and I have taken up the challenge to attempt to record something of my exploration of life through this means. I have commenced a new book titled "The Lego Principle" (The power of connecting to God and one another) by Joey Bonifacio. For those who have followed this blog previously you will know this follows something of a strong belief of mine that we are to be about "connecting" - to God, each other and our community.

Along with reading this I have commenced again the Life Journal Reading Plan today, and along with a great friend look to explore the passages together in relation to "what has God to say to us". Thus it was shared with me the reminder from the creation story, that God doesn't want us to be alone. Often I refer to this in the sense that inherently within each of us is a need for, longing for relationship. In the first place this is with God as Creator and beyond this with each other. We are not created to be as islands standing alone, rather purposed in creation to interact and know love through our relationships with each other.

Joey Bonifacio in his exploration of discipleship takes us back to the Matthew 28: 19-20 passage -

¹⁹ Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,^[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NLT)  
 

He commences with this notion of baptism and what this might mean for us in relation to what it meant for Jesus as He too was baptised and the strong connection this forms with God. The emphasis placed upon being "fully immersed, submerged, and soaked. Every part of Him (Jesus) was dedicated and consecrated as He publicly identified Himself with God."

In The Salvation Army I have personally seen our use of the Mercy Seat as a symbolism of the act of baptism whereby our kneeling identifies us with the total surrender to Christ (identifying with Christ in the fully being immersed, submerged and soaked) and rising in the triumphant power of the resurrection with Christ. Note the connectedness we have with Jesus in this act whereby we give over "everything" to live in Him, to be identified with Him in this newness of life.

Go back a moment to the Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3: 13-17) and be reminded of what was of particular significance, not the actual ritual but the result of Jesus' baptism, says Joey Bonifacio. As the words are echoed again for us, "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." Words that reflect the strength of the relationship. Words that we might be reminded are for us when we connect to God in our being fully immersed, submerged and soaked in the Spirit  of God.