New Life In Christ Even at The Mall

Jesus Christ is the reason for every season. He is not the a figurehead of just the feasts of celebration like Christmas and Easter; he is the life changer of everyday living. God has provided a means of bridging man's distance from Himself through the accomplishment of His son. We work in conjunction with the Father and His son through the unique gift of holy spirit. It is a relationship (I John 1:3), not  a contract.

I have heard people teach about Jesus Christ as the 'absent Christ' and that phrase is perplexing to me. How can he be absent? Spiritually he is not really absent because of how God has designed the universe. Jesus Christ is the head of the church. Nothing takes his place because of his divine appointment. The Word does not take his place.  Instead the Word is fulfilled in a risen Christ. The Word explains who Christ is. The book of Colossians is a great explanation of the 'how' our life is enriched by God's son as the head. If we let the word dwell richly within us (Colossians 3:16) and allow it to bring rest to our hearts, we can no long confess an 'absent Christ' or complicate God's provision by  theologizing about 'absent' Christs. It is all really quite simple. Man has complicated it.

God really loved the world in sending His son (John 3:16). It is in His son we find real life, a peace and and abundance beyond anything we could ever dream up. The greatest joy is in the fellowship (relationship) with an awesome Father, His son and all those who belong to Him. God surrounds us with powerful relationships and He knows what we need when it comes to fellowship! It is absolutely amazing.

Last weekend when I was driving the perimeter of perhaps one of the largest malls in the world, I got a phone call from my sis. Traffic was unimaginable and the sky was pelting the pavement with big chunks of sloppy snow! I relished the thought of pulling into a parking spot and calling her back. She said she'd call back. I went into a store got what I went for and just as I was about to pull away, she called (perfect timing) and there I sat with all the hustle and bustle going on around me, talking about grace, God and more grace!

The world may swirl around about us, pelting us with this or that, but we are never alone or very far from those who are a part of our church in the true sense of the Word. Jesus Christ is building the church (not the brick and mortar, stained-glass type)

I Peter 2:6-6 [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ. For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame. Amplified Bible