The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. Romans 6:10.

I keep thinking about how close God is. He is as close as the beautiful light permeating each day; the beauty we see all around us; the faces of the people we love. This morning in our Friday Morning Prayer Group, we talked about sacrifice. A comment that touched me was that there is a reason there is a cross at the center of all pain and suffering…and that Jesus was at home with the Father while He was here with us on this earth He made. Are we at home with our Father? We are so blessed. He didn’t have to make the air we breathe but He did. He didn’t have to make the physical Universe and this dynamic planet we call home but He did. He didn’t have to create us but He did. He shows us what love is by His sacrificial love for us. The life He lives He lives to God….

It’s so easy to forget God. We can go about our day and never once think about Him. When we ask Him to draw near that changes. We change. We notice His input in our minds. When we see something beautiful, we think of Him. When we replay a grudge in our minds we realize how harmful that grudge is and dare to let go. Little changes but they grow. We even find ourselves asking for more. More help, more understanding, more love in ourselves for others and for Him because now we want Him more!

In 1 Samuel 20 David and Jonathan had a deep friendship that was so needed for both of them. And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. v. 17. Even though they had to part company, their friendship remained. Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord saying, “The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town. v. 42. They were at home with each other and with God.

And what of Saul? He wasn’t at home with God. Not only did he continue to want to kill David, but he even tried to kill Jonathan, his son. What kind of life is that?

I keep contrasting a life lived at home with God and one without. What life do we live? What life do we want to live? Jesus was at home with His Father and He is at home with Him now; nothing separated Them. He wants to be at home with us! How do we let Him? We become aware. He’s not far away, He never was. People talk about “Separation Theology” as if God is the one who chooses separation, as though He is far away because we are so sinful. How can we be so wrong? We live unaware of Him who surrounds us with His blessing of life. We in our busy, distracted lives live unaware of Him. He doesn’t need this closeness with us – but He wants to be close. We need that closeness if we want to truly live.

There is a life lived apart from God. We have all of us lived that life. There is a life lived with God, at home with Him, aware of blessings that are His love to us. The life He lives He lives for God and gives to us in a sacrificial love so beautiful we cannot yet grasp it fully. It’s there…come Home!