Born again in us
“I gotta feelin, that everything’s gonna be all right
Be all right, be all right, be all right.”
What is being born right now in you? What is stirring in your mind? What new idea, purpose, is there for you to entertain, to allow to grow in you? Imagine that you are pregnant—even guys’ lives are full of meaning and expectations! Imagine that there is a new idea stirring about your profession or job, about your family, about who you are and your purpose in life. How do I, how do we, welcome what is new in our lives? How do I/we allow an idea to grow and mature in us? The birth of Jesus was not just a one-time event in the history of mankind, but He is always a-borning in us His plan, His vision for our lives. The only question then is this: what do I do with what God would birth in me today? Will I follow His lead?
Deep in our souls God is birthing new ideas, directions, purpose. What we do with what He suggests to us tells us a lot about our relationship with God. Do we listen for His voice, His direction? Do we heed/obey what He is telling us? For He is all about growing us into the people He created us to be. Belief in and following Christ are not a one-time action or declaration of faith, and then we are done. If we are in the Lord’s arms, we are an evolving people who delve deeper and deeper into our souls and our creation as God leads us through healing and wisdom and teaching and forming us into His new creation. And so, there are always new ideas being born in us, new directions, a new understanding or broadening of His Word and of our purpose—this is the nature of God’s calling out to us to the end of our days here on earth.
So, if you are still thinking the way you have always thought about everything, if you still hold the same opinions that you’ve always held, I would challenge you: to what depth are you following Christ? Are you listening and obedient to all that God is offering you? Have you left the world’s influence behind? Or aren’t you still a captive of this culture? And not of God?
This is the message of Advent: Jesus Christ is always being born anew in us day after day, year after year. This is how He would bring us to the fullness of our creation. This is how we would realize all the potential within us. It takes a lot of rethinking and healing and challenge on His part and an openness and willingness on ours to change and to obey God all the time.
The fulfillment of our creation is the end product of our immersion in what Jesus is teaching us every day. Being free to be ourselves as we were created to be. Living purpose-filled lives. Doing what we were created to do. Living in this world, but definitely not of this world. And being given the fruit of the Spirit—peace, joy, love, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The fulfillment of everything that is in us, by and through God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Questions to ponder over the week: Am I aware of new ideas, a new direction coming from the Indwelling Spirit of God? Am I willing to entertain them, to follow where they lead? Am I open to all that Christ is telling me? Am I obedient to His “still, small voice.” What am I sensing from what I am hearing? (Ponder the ones that seem to call you.)
Blessing for the week: May we be the people of God who willingly go where He would lead us. May we realize the promise of our creation. May we be God’s voice on this Earth.
Check out my other website, deepeningyourfaith.com, for information about spiritual practices and more writings about the spiritual life.
I am collecting conversion stories. I am still not sure what the Lord’s intention is for collecting these, but if you would care to share yours, I would only use your initials to identify the author.