Proximity changes everything. Most spend their lives in self-preserving fear and then one day you come face to face with this amazing God and things change. I'm not talking about your economic status, stress, or family issues. I'm not even talking about struggles within your own spirit. So often those things take time and can even be false senses of security. The change that I'm talking about is when you will stop at nothing to find the answer to the question, "Who is Jesus?"
One can't look at the world the same after being motivated by the glory of God's Spirt. Things change. You change. You look at your employers different, you work harder, you even treat your co-workers a bit better. It even affects the way you do business. You don't always look at the bottom line or treat customers as commodities. Maybe it affects the way you view salary structures. You become a better friend, parent, lover and citizen. You stop asking, how can I protect myself and start asking, "What is God doing in my life?" And most of all; others don't see a version of God in you, they actually see God!
The Scripture in Mark 4 we looked at Sunday shows us that Jesus is the God of the Biblical story. He is not just an agent of change. Not just a version of God. He is God! He is the creator, liberator and reconciler of all man-kind. Jesus identifies himself not with Moses of the Old Testament, but the God of the story of Moses. So for those of us, who have answered the question, "Who is Jesus?" This simply means a great and glorious life of being a slave to God. Going where he leads, moving when He speaks and guiding others to do the same. It starts with being reborn as you find faith in Christ, but it doesn't stop there. You find that over the years this rebirth continues to happen, over and over again. Not salvation, but the sanctification of your life. What feels like a new start on life is just closer proximity with God. You change from being a self-centered "me" follower to a Christ-centered "God" follower. Why you ask? Because, proximity changes everything!
Further Study:
Mark 16:9-20; Ephesians 2:1-10; Matthew 16:13-20
The Explicit Gospel, by Matt Chandler
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