That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-3 ESV
See those words in verse 3 eh? Life was made manifest to us so that we might have fellowship with God. This is our highest privilege. Jesus came to make this a possibility for us.
So the question is this…. do we act like it?
Seriously now… I know when I am faced up to this, I often don’t really act like spending time with God is my highest priority. For instance, take the blog. My desire is to spend time learning of God a minimum of four days a week and share that time with you as part of an accountability to myself AND you. But this week.. Twice. Seriously..how is THAT showing that spending time with God is my highest priority?
I find myself so busy lately… cleaning the yard, helping a lad learn how to caulk a window, teaching two boys how to clean out an eavestrough, cleaning a rabbitry, making meals and …. (you know the list can go on and on). I manage to have devotions with the boys at supper time but why does the physical press so hard when the spiritual should come first?
I honestly don’t know the answer. Do you?
AH… but I read further into this chapter by Ian Hamilton. He pointed out this important fact. Too often we see our relationship only from OUR point of view. We see only our failures (like me above eh?) and we don’t actually look at our relationship with God from HIS point of view. Failing to see God’s unfailing love.
It’s an interesting thing I’ve seen in my own life. When I see/feel my husbands strong love for me… I find myself wanting to do anything I can to make his life better or easier or to just show him how much I love him back. Thinking about this for a minute I stop and think about how marriage is supposed to show (in part) God’s relationship with the church. If feeling my hubby’s love for me causes me to respond in love to him, how so would feeling/understanding/knowing the depth of God’s love for me change my priorities in life?
Would seeing our relationship from HIS point of view, help alter my commitment levels? Or actions? Oh, that I might, that we might, fully understand God’s undying, never ending love for us. God holds a DEAR love for us his people. Understanding and seeing and feeling that love changes us inexplicably.
Let us stop being so self-centred in our relationship with God and see more clearly HIS relationship with us. A dearly loved child, that Christ came to earth to reconnect with his Father, sacrificing himself on our behalf, giving up everything for us. Remember… God loves us in a never ending, deep manner.
Oh… be changed by it! 🙂
Leave a Reply