What if God Was One of Us?

I had this old song by Alanis Morissette stuck in my head the other day -

What if God was one of us?
Just a slob like one of us
Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home

If God had a face
What would it look like?

The Bible says that God did become one of us through His Son, Jesus.  In Jesus we see the fullness of God and His heart for us.

"We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and see God's original purpose in everything created."

[Colossians 1:15 MSG]

But I often wonder, if Jesus was around today, what would He be like? 

I saw this picture today of a modern stained glass window which a teenager had designed to show Jesus in a 21st Century context.

If Jesus was around today, where would He be?  What would He be doing?  Who would He be with?

I don't think He'd be at church. 

Whilst He lived on earth, Jesus rarely hung around with 'religious' people.  He was usually found with those on the outskirts of society, with those who really needed Him and were aware of their need.  He befriended the lonely and despised (Zacchaeus); He healed the perpetually sick (the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years); He comforted the mourning (Mary and Martha); He fed the hungry (the feeding of the Five Thousand); He forgave the 'sinful' (the woman caught in adultery), and He affirmed the outcasts (the Samaritan woman).

What would this look like in our age and our culture?

Who are the lonely?  Who are the hungry?  Who are the sick?  Who is mourning?  Who needs to know comfort and forgiveness and affirmation?

The Bible says that we have Jesus' spirit living within us; we get to be Jesus to the world.  We get to share His love to those around us.  And when we do, it is as though we are doing it for Him.

        "I was hungry and you fed me,
        I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
        I was homeless and you gave me a room,
        I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
        I was sick and you stopped to visit,
        I was in prison and you came to me.

        ... Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that 

        was me—

        you did it to me."

        [Matthew 25:36, 40 MSG]

I know that most of the time I don't reflect Jesus or live out His love for other people.  But as I grow closer to Him, I hope that my life will look more like His.

God did come to earth and live as one of us.  And now He challenges us to live like Him.

Sewing

I have surprised myself recently with a new-found talent for sewing.  I have been hand-stitching cushion covers, bunting and fabric gifts, and have been thoroughly enjoying myself.

The project that I have been working on for the longest is a large patchwork cushion cover.  I have only got two rows left to go and I am excited about seeing what it will look like when it is all finished.  It is not the neatest thing ever (especially if you take a look at the back), but I am proud of it, especially as I never thought that I would be very good at anything involving a needle.  It is a jumble of odds and ends of different fabrics: some 'vintage' fabrics from Mum's old sewing basket, some off-cuts from previous sewing endeavours and some beautiful Cath Kidston squares.  They have different patterns and colours, but they all work together to create an overall cushion cover.

In the same way, the Bible describes us (as a church, both locally and globally) being sewn together in a tapestry that reflects God and His love:

"I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God.  Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery."

[Colossians 2:2 MSG]

My patchwork cushion would be rather dull if it was all made from the same fabric.  It is the different patterns and colours of each of the pieces which make it beautiful.  Individually, they are pretty fabrics but, together, they look even prettier; each square draws out the different colours of the surrounding squares.  Similarly, the church would look rather dull if we were all identical.  It is our differences which best reflect the different aspects of our diverse God.

Rather than feeling that we all ought to be the same, we should embrace and celebrate our differences.  One of my favourite verses expresses this beautifully -

"Since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvellously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't."

[Romans 12:6 MSG]

Whilst I continue to sew, I hope that this verse weaves its way into my heart, so that I can celebrate my own gifts and those of others.  So that I can 'draw out' the aspects of God that I see in those around me and so that, together, we can weave a tapestry of love that reflects who God is. 

It's Not What You Say, It's How You Say It

I was told the other day that I talk a lot with my hands.

We were at a training session about communication and how significant non-verbal features are.  Apparently 70% of what we say is non-verbal. 

Most of what we say isn't with words.

Sometimes we can spend ages thinking about the perfect way to phrase something or the best words to use to help someone to understand our points.  But what really matters is the way we say it.  The tone of our voice, the pace of our voice, the volume of our voice, our eye contact, our body language, our hand gestures...

It's the same when it comes to faith.  Most of what we say about what we believe is non-verbal.  It's in our lifestyles.  And other people look for these things.

We say it in the way we greet them, the way we treat them, the way we handle stress, the way we handle disappointment, the way we comfort others, the way we support others, the way we show kindness, the way we show grace, the way we forgive, the way we forget, the way we give away our love, the way we give away our money.

We say more with our lives than with our words.

What are you saying with your lifestyle?

"Treat everyone you meet with dignity.  Love your spiritual family.  Revere God.  Respect the government."

[1 Peter 2:17, MSG]

"Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity."

[Colossians 4:5, NLT]

I talk a lot with my hands.  But I hope that I talk a lot with my lifestyle too.