Fellowship with the Father and with his son, Jesus Christ
Thursday, December 27, 2012
The Third Day of Christmas
1 John 1:1-4
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life, for the Life was made visible. This eternal Life was with the Father and was made visible to us. And we are writing so that our joy may be complete.
Can anyone keep this kind of good news to themselves? Of course not, and why would they? “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, and they shall be to all people!” What has been given to me I want to share with you. As I do, my joy will be complete.
The genius of the Christian trinitarian God is the relationship. Our language can’t hold the idea, because a singular cannot be a plural. But my experience within myself, when my “parts” rub off on each other, fits with my understanding of God as three in one. When these internal dialogues between the parts are voiced, I (myself in unity), am much better off.
Throughout his writing, John wants to evoke the experience of unity he has with Jesus, with God. His often poetic and mystical stories wring out my reason, stretching it beyond what I think I know to what God wants me to know.
Perhaps John is eighty, or ninety, when he writes these words for his friends. He has learned how to love. He lives out his life for others, and sacrifices almost everything that could make him comfortable. He knew that Jesus watched his Father sacrifice himself, and then he watched Jesus sacrifice himself. Now John sacrifices himself for his friends.
John makes it as clear as he can. This is what life is for. There is nothing else that takes its place.
Sometimes my sacrifice might be imperceptible to others, but within me … I know. Either I am seeking comfort and special treatment, or I’m not. It’s always when I’m not, when I lose track of what’s “good for me,” that God’s goodness and God’s love and God’s wisdom in me comes to life.
It’s a wonderful life, Lord, this giving up and letting go. The Satan-run world does its best to knock that good sense out of me and convince me to protect instead of give myself away. I forget you often, and hold on. Forgive me, again and again, and renew your right spirit within me.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1124
