[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=’av-align-top’ space=” margin=’0px’ margin_sync=’true’ link=” padding=’0px’ padding_sync=’true’ border=” border_color=” radius=’600px’ radius_sync=’true’ background_color=” src=” attachment=” attachment_size=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=” mobile_display=” custom_class=”]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” custom_class=” admin_preview_bg=”]
FITTING IN
Where do I fit in?
It seems like one of life’s questions. Where do I fit? Where do I belong? Is there a place for me in the game, at the table? We can spend a lot of time working on that question. We need to belong, fit in, be accepted. Our entire advertising industry is built around trying to convince us what we should buy to increase our chances of fitting in.
The same question can come up in our spiritual lives too. It is not always obvious to us where we fit. We get confused over doctrine, theology, rules, baptism, grace and a whole bunch of other things. How does one figure it all out?
In the New Testament, in the gospel of John, the words Jesus spoke to his followers just before he is killed seem to offer an answer:
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Do you see it? The “in-ness?” The Spirit of truth, the Advocate is in us; and we are in Jesus. Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in him. We are in! When we belong to Jesus, we have a place where we fit in. We are in Jesus and he is in us. The implications are profound. The creator who made me and you has also made a place for us inside the relationship God has with Jesus and the Spirit. Why would God do that? I can think of only one reason….because he loves us.
-Jeff
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
Leave a Reply