How His Presence Shapes Us

I thought this verse was fitting because although it’s not Pentacost, we all likely celebrated Christmas by gathering together in some form. In that gathering, we likely experienced a whisper of what the early apostles felt. When Christians gather together in Christ’s name, God is glorified.

He also reminds us in his Word that he is present with us when we gather in his name. And His presence, often experienced through relationship, changes so many things for good. So as a sort of post-Christmas and pre-New Year reflection, let’s recall the ways His presence has shaped us this past year. We can also use this time to joyfully anticipate how it can shape us this coming year.

One characteristic of Christ in particular has made a big impact on me this year. Some of the projects the team has worked on this year have brought about a lot of reflection on the sufficiency of Christ. We’ve had discussions about it. We have meditated on in it. We have prayed for more awareness of it.

I think at least part of the reason I’ve been digging into it so much is because of the constant desire in our culture for a worldly more-focused mindset. Christ stands in opposition to this in all the best ways. And the truth is, even as Christians, we could spend a lot of time trying to “make up” for many things we lack that we’re never meant to.

One of the glorious joys of being in Christ is that now all things we might be insufficient in on a given day (patience, love, kindness or mercy for example) are brought into Christ’s sufficiency. It is in the awareness of our lack we can come to Christ and in total vulnerability, accept his completeness for our lives. Instead of bemoaning a lack of anything, even material things, we can bring this need to Christ.

Countless times this year I brought a lack of some kind of Christ in prayer. Every time he showed me how to revel in it by seeing how he had either already met that need with something I already had. Other times he would show me how that lack was actually the gift because it gave me the focus I need on the right things.

So friends, I pray this week as we memorize this verse, we recognize that there is great creativity to be cultivated in Christ’s presence.