A Prayer

Jesus

Thank you for overcoming the world. Because of that we can experience unity with you, and because we can be unified with you we can experience unity with eachother - in fact, you command it.  

It is by you that all things hold together. As we seek to centre or lives around you, help us to see all the ways you are at work in the world. 

Draw us close to your heart so that we begin to see others the way you see them, so that we look out for their interests above our own. 

We want your Kingdom to come here on earth as it is in Heaven, so we pray you will unite us in purpose so that nothing prevents people searching for you and believing in you. May we know such unity that the world will know you sent us and that we love them unconditionally, as you do. 

Come Lord Jesus and do in our lives what only you can do.

Amen

Become like the one you live with

 

Do you ever watch people sitting around a table engaged in conversation? Do you notice the way they unconsciously mimic each other’s posture? This is just a minor example of how we become like those with whom we pass the time of day. During our lifetime among family and friends we pick up mannerisms, habits, patterns of speech and ideologies without even knowing.

 Jesus said “Abide in me and I will abide in you”. Live with me He says, know my thoughts, pick up my mannerisms, be with me, become like me.

 This is more, much more than a daily bible reading (which is, clearly, a good thing to do). It's more than just learning about Jesus so you can imitate him, (though Paul says “Imitate me even as I imitate Christ”). It's more than spending time with other Christians where you can learn how to do church. All these things are good but living with Jesus is so much more. We can practice the behaviour which we know is right as Peter instructs in his 2^nd letter, and there is an element of doing it until you become it. But it is the constant presence of the Living God that we need. 

To live with Jesus means having God in the person of the Holy Spirit as a constant companion, a friend, always there to talk to, always there to help, guide, comfort, support, encourage, empower, and to correct. Then sometimes we just need to simply BE with him. 

On the other hand, Psalm 1:1 reminds us: “Blessed is the one who does not walk with the wicked or stand with sinners or sit in the company of mockers”.

 So, brothers and sisters in the Lord, let us decide today who’s company we will keep. Let us decide to live with Jesus – after all, just think what he went through to make it possible. 

“May grace and peace cascade over you as you live in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2)