The Invitation To Closeness

“Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  

- Matthew 7:14 

As human beings in a world that is still hurting itself, trying to figure out it’s problems in its own ways, Jesus is the only One who knows the true way forward. 

Jesus gave us a way to enter in.

He gives us a way to become the human being He designed and created us to be. But, healing and transformation happen gradually and slowly because the mess that is in us is layered. Over time, through the gift of time, we start recognizing how far and wide and deep this relationship with our Creator really is capable of going. 

God doesn’t force love. It's us who decide how close we actually want to be with Him. 

Throughout stages of life, we’re gifted with moments and reflective seasons where we begin growing in recognition and awareness. It is us who decide just how much of our pride we're willing to let go of to experience His goodness and life healing love. 

I've been in a personal relationship with Jesus for a while now. I've done a lot of reflecting on some significant parts of my history. My joys, pain, gifts, and my own ego that can get in the way. I’ve seen and experienced how my Christianity can easily stay self-focused. I can be tempted to function out of my own brokenness, instead of belief in God's presence right here with me. As I’ve continued to submit to knowing Jesus, what He’s like and how He shows me the way into life, a hunger for His righteousness instead of my own has increased in my soul.

But, this has been a gradual journey. It's as if we get to experience a few spiritual wake up moments and recognize our own journey. We start seeing reality more clearly. It's up to us to decide how much intimacy we actually want with Jesus and just how close we’re willing to let Him be with us and help us. Many may say “yes” at some point but, few will continue on and know for themselves the fullness of what He has actually given us access to through a personal, life-long, deepening relationship with Him.

Sister, Joan Chittister reflects on how we can all get stuck in our human development. She writes, “The only problem is that if and when we don’t grow out of it, as we should, it renders us bereft of an adult spiritual life. We become, instead, spiritual infants, adolescents suspended halfway between
maturity and self-indulgence."

As we grow up and start becoming adults in our personal Christian practice we become aware of the reality that we actually cannot reach full maturity and know the fullness of life in Christ through ourselves and
our way. The Holy Spirit is so ready, available, and not only willing, but in fact delighted to help us change and grow into who we are really meant to be!

How close do you want to be to Jesus?

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:16-19

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