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"?

 

Connecting with each other

By now you will be aware that I am sold out on the mandate of CONNECTING. A little while ago I introduced this idea of :-

CONNECTING with God
CONNECTING with each other
CONNECTING with our community

There are two passages of Scripture which bring focus for me in this aspect of connecting with each other:-

 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31 this passage reminds us of the infinite value that every single person has to making up the whole, and this whole to which I refer is the Body - the church. I become very aware that none is exempt and we need to be doing all that we can (those of us who are a part of the church) to ensure that we are inclusive of those who come amongst us. There are people for whom the feeling of being insignificant and insufficient is a very real experience, and this is not confined to an out-of-church experience (sadly). Yet this Scripture reminds us that ALL are necessary to make for the body to be functional and healthy. Without each person finding their place and operating to capacity, as they are designed, the body is placed under immense and unnecessary pressure. We need to learn better that none are more important that others, only different. Our Lego block becomes a good representation of this for us, they are different in shape, size, colour, etc.

Hebrews 10: 19-25  this passage reminds us of the importance of meeting together regularly, and compels us that we don't stop doing this. Some of the important reasons for this are highlighted in the following for us and come from various translations:- 

• the need to be motivating one another on to acts of love and good works
• we should encourage one another
• consider and give attentive, continuous care 
• study to show how we might stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities
• be inventive in encouraging and helping out

Another aspect that is important to consider is what our strong connection to one another reveals to the world around us. It reveals our relationship to Jesus and the difference He makes in our lives and relationships, believe it, people do notice. Sometimes the greater reality is that people question why we are not different at times, why the unforgiveness, bitterness, conflict is so rife within the church, because they expect a difference in people who profess to be the church. 

So here is the deal for us. We are a people created to be in relationship with God, in touch with the Creator. Learning, developing, growing and bearing fruit from this relationship. However, the relationship circle widens to encompass one another, whereby we look out for the interests of each other. Encouraging, spurring on into greater things. Identifying that EVERY person has a place and is vital to the whole, that makes up the body. In each person finding their place, this body becomes fully functioning and grows and produces good fruit from it's labours.

You have a functioning part to play in the body that is the church. Are you finding that place? 

Connecting...

Well this is a theme I have been convinced about for a long time now. Despite what mission imperatives we might have, such as we do here at Geelong - "changing lives, strengthening families & impacting society", I believe these must have a 'connection' base.

CONNECTING with God
CONNECTING with each other
CONNECTING with our community

Fundamentally, the first is what we were created for, relationship with God. However, it extends to being in a place whereby we follow the plan He has for us, at the same time tapping into a source of strength and power to accomplish what He sets us to do. It is the source of our BEing.

The second is a reminder of the importance and ultimately the need of doing this together, we are to be the 'body' of Christ. We are not a dislocated conglomerate of body parts, we were purposed to be joined together, complimenting each other, working together effectively for the Creator.

Finally, we are to have an external focus (our community) - to be looking and working outside the church - 'others'. Recall the command, 'GO' and make disciples...

The image and analogy that best works for me is the Lego block. None of the above will just happen, like a Lego block with multiple connectors, they have to be pressed together to form a connection. There is something intentional about the act of connecting. We need to be purposeful in our acts. Think about it a moment - the Lego blocks are not dissimilar to us in that they come in all sorts of colours, shapes and sizes, yet the purpose is for them to connect with another part. We too are made for this purpose, so lets ensure we are doing all in our power to ensure this happens with the strongest effect possible.

More on this is to come ...

 

To BE like ...

Henri Nouwen wrote, "At every moment you have to decide to trust the voice that says, 'I love you. I knit you together in your mother's womb' (Psalm 139: 13)."

What most jumps out at you from this? Decide? Trust? The notion that someone, God, loves you? How He created you? Or is it even a questioning of how this choosing might be dependent upon the circumstance, after all, it is much easier to trust when things are going good for us, isn't it?

What might your choosing, your deciding be?

I know for me there is a strong desire to ALWAYS trust, 'whatever' the circumstances. There are occasions where this has been put to the test and yes, I have trusted, my faith has remained unwavering. Yet I can understand the occasions where this might be difficult for people.

Is this the thing that makes the difference though - this last aspect, whereby we listen to the voice that says, 'I love you. I knit you together ...' I cannot get away from this thinking that what really makes the difference is not God knowing me, but me knowing Him. And further getting to know Him, more and more and more. That the real factor here is my relationship with Him developing, growing, becoming more significant every day, because I spend time with Him. 

Think about it a moment. What tends to happen when we do this? Is it not true that we often begin to pick up on the attributes of this One we spend time with? Something of them begins to rub off on us? We begin to be influenced by them.

That is how I see it with God anyways. As I spend more time with Him, I hope I begin to BE more and more like Him. Do I always? No! But it is my aim, my desire.

To BE like Jesus, this hope posses me ...