It's all right in front of me

1 Cor 1:4 Every time I think of you — and I think of you often! — I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. 5 There's no end to what has happened in you — it's beyond speech, beyond knowledge. 6 The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.

7 Just think — you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. 8 And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. 9 God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that. (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

The long silence since my last post, and the rare moments since I’ve been consistent can sometimes resemble the quality and quantity of time spent in the word, His presence, and focusing on Christ.

In this passage Paul is conveying something of great importance. As he writes to the town of Corinth, he tells with much enthusiasm that each person now had FREE and OPEN ACCESS to God, on behalf of what Christ has done. The way in which we are changed is a result of the free and open access. Yet, do I really live that way? Do I really make use of my free and open access to God? Do I daily, or more often, seek shelter in His presence or ask for His thoughts and opinions?

From my perspective, I need so much… I need time, money, energy, motivation, guidance, dreams, friendships, and more material possessions than I can realistically make use of. Yet, God says all I truly need is right in front of me. Let’s take inventory for just a moment… what do I have in front of me? I have a career that allows me to connect others to God’s plan for their lives, I have my health, I have talents that are to be put to use… I have nothing of my own. I have everything God has planned for me. I will go through the rough times with bruises, but I will come out more perfect for it. I will constantly seek to serve Him in all I do.

No matter what may come, God will never give up on me. A hard concept to grasp… no matter how human and imperfect I may be, He will remain with me through this journey.