Living Close to God

Reflections from Bro. Rudy –
November 30, 2011

Living Close to God

I saw a quote this morning that has been around a long
time. It was posted by Pray in
Faith. “If you are not as close to God
as you used to be, who moved?”

Christmas is about God’s move toward us. Being created in the image of God there is a
need within us to be in relationship with God.
One of my seminary professors said we were created to be balanced by
God. But sin separates us from God. Sin puts our lives out of balance. God, in Jesus, came to reconcile us back unto
Himself. At Christmas God’s reaching
love took human flesh as God moved toward us, so we could reconnect with God.

The problem is, rather than living in this restored
relationship with God, we often focus on our own selfish desires instead of
living by the Spirit. Paul wrote, “Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not
gratify the desires of the flesh.”
(Galatians 5:16; NRSV) When we
are not intentional about living by the Spirit, we move away from God.

This Christmas season has many opportunities. Sometimes even the good things make our lives
so busy that we lose focus on the main thing.
We get so wrapped up in the many activities of the season that we fail
to spend time with the One who is the reason for the season. It is not that God has moved. Rather, we have drifted.

Christmas is about God moving toward us – Emmanuel, God with
us, has come. It is my prayer that we
don’t miss this great God in the busyness of the season.

This Sunday night, our Children’s
Choir will help us remember this great God who moves toward us. They will share their Christmas musicals at 6:30 in the Sanctuary. You will be blessed by their faith and
excitement about Jesus.

During our Sunday night service this week, we will receive
our White Christmas Offering for the
Children’s Home. This offering helps
support this special ministry to children.
If you cannot be present, you can still make your special gift by
marking your check for “White Christmas” or “Children’s Home.”

Commitments to the 2012 budget continue to come in. If you have not made your commitment,
Commitment Cards are available in the welcome areas.

As always, your responses to these
Reflections are welcome. You can
email me at rguess@gmvumc.org.