Month: August 2013

“When the Son of God prays, He is mindful and consciously aware of only His Father. God always hears the prayers of His Son, and if the Son of God has been formed in me (see Galatians 4:19) the Father will always hear my prayers. But I must see to it that the Son of God is exhibited in my human flesh. “…your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit…”(1 Corinthians 6:19), that is, your body is the Bethlehem of God’s Son. 

(My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers) 

 

I was reading my devotional today which is My Utmost for His Highest that was given to me by a dear friend when Amy was in the hospital. Today’s entry struck me. Hard. Think on that selection that is above. Wow. I almost cannot even approach the true meaning of what Oswald is saying. 

That my body is the Bethlehem of God’s Son. 

Then I think about how I live my life and think about the decisions that I have made and I think how unworthy are we to have Jesus literally formed within us, so much so that when God looks at us he sees His son because that is who we are. Individually, Corporately, Globally. He sees Jesus in us. 

Because He literally formed His Son in us. 

That’s heavy. 

This weekend I am with many others at the Orientation to Ministry Summit and we are learning together the ordination process in the United Methodist Church. Today we are hearing call stories from several pastors and laity. As I was listening to these stories, a phrase popped into my head and I cannot get it out of my head.

“I can neither ignore or not respond.”

Then God reminded me of a passage from Jeremiah.

The Lord’s word came to me: “Before I created you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart; I made you a prophet to the nations.” “Ah,  Lord God,” I said, “I don’t know how to speak because I’m only a child.” The  Lord responded, “Don’t say, ‘I’m only a child.’ Where I send you, you must go; what I tell you, you must say. Don’t be afraid of them, because I’m with you to rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the  Lord  stretched out his hand, touched my mouth, and said to me, “I’m putting my words in your mouth. This very day I appoint you over nations and empires, to dig up and pull down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.”

The word of the Lord has come to me and I can neither ignore it or not respond.

I must respond.

So in my response Lord I will trust, for you are the one who created me and knows me.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.