You and I are the connection the world is desperately looking for. How is that factual? First, the world is disconnected from their awakening to THE one and only true God. And that is not His desire or doing. We are ambassadors to that emergent connection. As ambassadors we are Jesus with skin on!
God is clearly the initiator of authentic relational connection. He has done and provided everything necessary to be connected to him. Jesus Christ is and always will be THE connector. In the vernacular of teen age romance, he has been 'hitting' on us for all eternity.
"Thank God because he's good, because his love never quits. Tell the world, Israel, 'His love never quits'. And you, clan of Aaron, tell the world, 'His love never quits.' And you, who fear God, join in, 'His love never quits.'
Pushed to the wall, I called to God; from the wide open spaces, he answered. God's now at my side and I'm not afraid; who would dare lay a hand on me? God's my strong champion; I flick off my enemies like flies. Far better to take refuge in God than trust in people; far better to take refuge in God than trust in celebrities. Hemmed in by barbarians, in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt; Hemmed in and with no way out, in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt; Like swarming bees, like wild prairie fire they hemmed me in; in God's name I rubbed their faces in the dirt (don't pretend you never wanted to rub someone’s face in the dirt: in God's name of course).
I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall, when God grabbed and held me. God's my strength, he's also my song, and now he's my salvation. Hear the shouts; hear the triumph songs in the camp of the saved? 'The hand of God has turned the tide! The hand of God is raised in victory! The hand of God has turned the tide!'
I didn't die. I lived! And now I'm telling the world what God did. God tested me, he pushed me hard, but he didn't hand me over to Death. Swing wide the city gates--the righteous gates! I'll walk right through and thank God! This Temple gate belongs to God, so the victors can enter and praise.
Thank you for responding to me; you've truly become my salvation! The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone! This is God's work. We rub our eyes--we can hardly believe it! This is the very day God acted--let's celebrate and be festive! Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God--a free and full life!
Blessed are you who enter in God's name--from God's house we bless you! God is God; he has bathed us in light. Festoon the shrine with garlands, hang colored banners above the altar! You're my God, and I thank you. Oh my God, I lift high your praise. Thank God--he's so good. His love never quits!" Psalm 118:1-25 The Message (parenthesis mine).
Janis and I were visiting and talking with a precious friend and saint. She was given the 'death' declaration from cancer doctors six years ago. Told she had only months to live with stage four cancers, God gave her this word from Psalm 118, especially verses 16-18. Instead of a "death' sentence" from the doctors; she had a "life promise" from God! There is now no trace that she ever had cancer!
This is now her testimony. "I didn't die. I lived! And now I'm telling the world what God did. God tested me, he pushed me hard (though he chastened me severely), but he didn't hand me over to Death." She is not the exception: in God, she is the rule! And she has become an awesome connection for the world to God! You and I are the connection to Jesus that the world is desperately searching for (even if they aren't aware of their search).
In the grip of Papa's grace! Ron Ross
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