Connecting with the heart of God!
What is your reaction to this phrase? What do you picture? What do you imagine a person who is connected to the heart of God looks like? Is doing? Saying?
Where is your heart connected?
Jesus says “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12:34). He also says, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor.” (v.33) What is your reaction to that statement? That will tell you something about where your heart is connected.
There are many forces tugging at our hearts. Jesus was tempted in the desert by those same forces. The draw of possessions and the status they give us, the lure of power and the illusion that we can control our lives and future and the desire to be well thought of and celebrated by others.
When we surrender to temptations our hearts are disconnected from God’s heart and we are unable to make that connection on our own.
God desires to be connected to us and takes the initiative to make it possible. The story of Holy Week is the story of God reaching out to us, making a way for our hearts to connect with his heart.
We see Jesus’ love for the Father as he celebrates the Passover meal with his disciples. We see his love for his disciples as he washes their feet, as he shares the bread and cup, as he grieves for the one who will betray him, as he teaches his disciples to love each other.
Jesus’ heart stays firmly rooted in God as he faces his trial, the denial of friends, his suffering and humiliation, his feeling that even God has abandoned him on the cross. From the cross he speaks words of forgiveness, words of concern for his mother and disciples, words of confidence about God’s plan of eternity.
On the cross, Jesus made a way for us.
There is no formula that connects us to the heart of God. There is no effort we can take to make it happen. But, there is God’s grace poured out at Calvary that makes a way. We are invited to receive.
What does it look like when a people are connected to the heart of God? I think you see vital worship. I think you see people growing in their lives, listening to God and sharing how God is working in their lives. I think you see people generously sharing themselves in love and service for others
As we at FBC of Manlius claim this phrase (Is it a slogan? a theme?) we are naming what is important to us. We are setting a direction for our life together. I am excited to imagine what God might do with that future.
Faithfully,
Pastor Leon
PS: Watch for the logo being developed by our communications team.
PS: Thank you to everyone who made the Lenten Wednesdays possible. They were wonderful gatherings all of Lent.