Dear Brother and Sisters in Christ,
Jesus says “I will never leave you; surely I am with you always.” Matthew 28:20. But in our dark times, it can seem like we are alone. How do we get over this and have a sense of His presence always?
The goal of the Christian journey is to become like Christ, God is making us into little Christs. We are being “transformed’ into his likeness step by step or “from one degree of glory to another glory.” 2 Cor 3:18. David Benner writes in Surrender to Love that Jesus’s offer is abundant life based on death and rebirth. It involves death to the old kingdom of self and surrender to perfect love, accepting the gifts of His love. This repentance is a turning from our old life to Jesus. And as we turn to the Lord, Jesus’s call to each of us is a call to be aware of, to recognize, His presence.
Remember Mary Magdalene’s experience standing outside the tomb of Jesus. She is distraught and in despair. Everything she believed has now been shaken and called into question. The one she knew and believed in has seemingly left her in death and she feels alone. She is confused, and frightened of her future. Then she discovers that his body has been taken, she feels more alone and helpless. She is in agony, weeping, with no idea of what to do now.
As she peers into the tomb, she sees two angels, who ask her why she is crying. Even this great sight is not enough to calm her fears. She then turns around and sees someone else there, who she assumes is the gardener. He says her name and then she recognizes the voice, the voice of the one who loves her. (Jesus said my sheep, my followers, know my voice.) With that, she turns from despair to hope. Her pain is replaced with joy and she is alive again in body, soul and spirit!
This is repentance, turning toward Jesus. It is also recognition and a transformation; she accepts the gifts of his love. It is also a spiritual awakening; she now knows that she is not alone. Jesus lives and is always with her! He cannot be taken from her; her spirit is joined to him. The truth of 1 Cor 6:17, “whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit” has penetrated her and she is never to be the same. Her spirit is changed forever.
Jesus’ call to each of us is to be aware of His Presence, to turn toward Him and to surrender to His love. This is the call He offers to each of us each and every day of our lives. Benner, p.75.
Our response is never once and for all, but day by day with the acceptance of his perfect love in the light of our weaknesses and flaws. As Anthony of the Desert said, “Every morning I must say again to myself, today I start.”
Conversion is the lifelong, day to day, process of being transformed into the image of Christ. It is so much bigger than simply trying to avoid sin. The focus of our repentance, conversion and transformation is Jesus, not our sin or our self. There is no other way but surrender to divine love with the experiential knowledge in our spirit that we are not alone. Divine love alone can transform our heart, our spirit and our will. Divine love enables us to choose God’s will over ours.
When we know He is with us, we can live in His joy and peace unrelated to our circumstances and we can choose to surrender to His will so much more readily. We know that we are not in control but He is! He lives and He lives within us! He calls to our spirit to walk with Him even in the valleys of death knowing that new life is coming!!
Thanks for partnering with us over the past year to bring food, clothing and meet the physical needs of the poorest of the poor children. You have also helped us bring the good news of the love of God in Christ. We could not do it without you. These are but a few of the children that have had needs met this past year through your support.
Please remember A Voice for Children in your year-end giving and pray that we may do all God has for us in caring for his kids!
Joy and peace of the Immanuel, the God who is with us,
Cameron
www.avoiceforchildrenintl.com | avoice4children@gmail.com | 50 S Steele St, suite 1000, Denver, CO 80209 | 303.320.6929