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Approach God with Confidence ...

Monday, Jan 17, 2022. Good morning! Hope you are well today. How to approach God? Who is God? What is his character, how is he? Some ask if he is at all. He might not be found if someone does not sincerely longs to find him - this is another story, quite mysterious.

But let us take up the question how to approach him this morning.

How to Approach God? …

It is very exciting to study the way humans approach God or any strong being which they think it could influence their life. We as humans tend to take into account the strenght or power of any being or power, do what we are forced to do and then search to find our spot of freedom to do what WE want. Somehow it is a matter of strategy, and human behaviour in religious matters seems to be similar to our behaviour when it comes to the political realm.

An important point here is that God is not the big dictator and suppressor. He is not just another strong power we need to handle somehow, to live our life. This is not the God of the Christian faith, and it is not the God of several other of the larger religions either.

Who is God? …

Let us look into three verses of the letter which the apostle Paul wrote to the church in the town of Ephesus, about 25 years after the crucifiction and resurrection of Jesus:

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3, 10-12)

The purpose and target of God's actions are liberation. The main point is not suppression. The only power which God wants to exercise is the power of liberation, truth and love, of creativity and empowerment. It is also true, that where life is missing, death comes - we will need to address this point as well. But the main points first.

The Christian message formulates that in and through Christ Jesus this liberation, truth, love and empowerment takes place. In him and through faith in him. Freedom comes here, a freedom which enables humanity. That is the point.

There is, of course, much to say here, much to ask. What is the character of God, that truth, love, liberation is his main goal. How does it all work? How do we learn about God, how to explore his character, his presence, his guidance, his power, this freedom which Jesus points to? The path of faith is a very exciting journey, day by day, again and again! (Roland Potthast)

jn_en_2022_01_17.txt · Last modified: 2022/01/17 08:30 by potthast