Communion

A ramble and a mess of reflections… but that is life and relationships, right? In one of my classes, I was really struck by the connection between life and community/relationships. God created us to have a relationship with him—when we broke that, our life ended. Spiritually, immediately. Physically, eventually. But life ended when the relationship ended.

The history of the Bible is about relationships—from Genesis 3:15, when God promises a restoration of relationships in the midst of their curse, to Revelation, when the culmination is that "God will dwell on earth with men."

The angels announced "good news" to the world. I've always read it as a promise for the future—Jesus will die for our sins, so be glad for this event in the future. Certainly, I think it has an aspect of that. But, perhaps there is something real about the good news of that night as well—regardless of what this little babe would do in the future, there is immense good news that God once again stepped foot on the earth. Good news in just that—Immanuel, God with us.

Immanuel—God with me.

"I am the way, the life, and the truth" (John 14:6).

"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3).

"When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with him in glory" (Col. 3:4).

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal. 2:20).

I am challenged to reflect again on the deep, intimate level of Christ in me, me in Christ, his life in me… It is more than a theological statement. I can't define it. But this is God.

God wants to be with me.

I want to be with him because He wants to be with me.

Because I am with Him, I want others to know Him. And there is not a shortage of him. : ) I don't have to compete for attention. I spent the weekend in San Lorenzo, and Melissa's cousin spent two hours just hanging on me, begging for attention. I liked it…at first at least. I am a little concerned about why she was so desperate for attention.

We are desperate for attention, but we run from Him who longs to give it. I look for my desires in ministry, in studies, in relationships on this earth. He offers a relationship and in that is completeness. I am realizing in this culture, that I desire relationships deeply (especially in a new culture, especially then…) but sometimes my American habits only push them away—it is funny, because some things that I do in America intentionally to draw others closer to me, here pushes them away. What things to learn.

But I've got God with me. I've got good news. I've got life.