God Thoughts

I've been thinking a lot lately about what it really means to really interact with God. I hear a lot of people say that they are more spiritual then religious, and I get where that is coming from. Systematic or institutionalized religion (which can be found in both the Protestant and Catholic branches) at best lacks life and vitality and at worst is oppressive and can crush a persons spirit. Most people I talk to have had their brushes with this and can only handle it in small doses, like on Easter and Christmas. That leaves most with a vague desire for spirituality that can pretty much be reduced to a fleeting feeling of transcendence when some beautiful aspect of nature is revealed, which may be real but doesn't really get as deep or as wide as I think we are thirsty for.

It seems that for most folks I talk to God is real concept, but not a real person, and if He is He's certainly not real close. In short God seems distant and far off. It is my deepest held belief and experience that this doesn't have to be so. I believe we are meant to experience the living God often, that this is our deepest need and desire, though often we try to satisfy it with things that only satisfy for a moment. So how do we accomplish this seemingly elusive goal of having a satisfying relationship with the living God?


“You who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.“ It is by the work on the cross that Christ accomplished. However even though that work is accomplished we must tap into it to allow ourselves to be reconciled to God. Paul, the author of much of the New Testament, simplifies what we do to tap into that work on our behalf. “Repent and believe, that times of refreshing might come upon you“. Or if you unpack that statement, we must come to God from a place of understanding that our very nature broken and come to the source of all life for our healing. We must turn from self and turn to Jesus, not as a historical icon but as the living Savior and King. We must Seek God with a humble attitude, expecting Him to meet us where we are with His presence. We must seek to see Him in the Scriptures, meditating on who He is and what He has done, not stopping until we know deeply that we have been reconciled to Him so that we can experience His nearness.