The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that He lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand-new creation. Not to make people with better morals but to create a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnipresent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumes, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant, furious love. This, my friend, is what it really means to be a Christian.
~Brennan Manning, The Furious Longing of God
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that He has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
~ paul, The Least of The Apostles, in Ephesians 3
Oh beloved, it is true, we are one with One who is beyond our grasp. We are Christians. We are: little Christs. We are:
Headed for (and already in) a destiny far beyond any of our ability to comprehend.
Loved beyond measure.
Provided for in ways we never even know.
Protected from dangers we never even see.
We are more known than we know ourselves.
So in this, we delve more deeply into the mystery of who He is. We wonder: why? Why would He even take mind of us? However, if we are not careful, we will never see the answer, because we are looking at the question the wrong way.
If we look at what God is doing for us, only in the sense that the goodness is for us, we will most surely miss it. Because the goodness of G_d is not just some sort of energy or balm that a nice being is scraping off of a supply and applying to us in some sort of pity or charity move.
No, G_d is simply being who He is. He is Who He is. There is no why. And this is both the great comfort – and astounding mystery – of our relationship with Him. G_d is utterly concerned about us, but it is because He is utterly concerned about His own well-being, and the glory of His Great Name.
And this takes us a little deeper into the mystery, but closer the answer.
In the nature of the Trinity is the answer. The Holy Spirit is the One working in us, and making us into the very likeness of Jesus Christ. And all of this activity gives great glory to the Father. But in all of this, we can barely even recognize the mysterious movements of the Spirit’s hands on our spirits.
This is the purest example of the economics of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Holy Spirit, seemingly nearly mysterious and unknown (read perceived as the weakest) aspect of the Trinity, is investing Himself (read Selfless Love) in the weakest of vessels (read us). And, in the fallen economics of the fallen world we inhabit, this would seem like a nearly idiot play.
Can we see it though? It is genius. G_d, in giving Himself away to us, in appearing weak and mysterious to us, is actually (and at the same time) moving nations and times and oceans and peoples and races out of the way, and into alignment for us. And all the while, He is bringing billions into His very family, that they may commune with Him, in joy, forever.
So, what seems to be weak and self-effacing for G_d. What seems to a bunch of busy work, just to make us happy and fulfilled, is actually (and at the same time) fulfilling the purposes of The Almighty. And that is to prove to all creation that He Alone is Mighty to Save.
So again, why is He doing all of this? To show us His Love? Sure. But, the utter purity of G_d allows Him to be utterly selfish. He will have His glory, and then give it to us to enjoy. We are to become one with the One who made us. Humility demands we bow to this demand of our Creator.
Tonight is your night beloved. Time to see the depth of the good news. For very good news it is.
