God With Us

SEPTEMBER 13, 2013

Today’s Reflection
FOLLOWING JESUS DOES NOT MEAN holding in our imagination the memory of someone who lived 2,000 years ago and trying to apply his teachings to our time. No, following Jesus means following the risen Lord, who is with us at this moment, drawing us more fully home into deepening communion with God.

“I am with you always; yes to the end of time” (Matt. 28:20). That is the promise.

Who is God? What is God’s name? The first time God reveals this name is in the encounter with Moses at the burning bush. The name of God is “I AM” (Exodus 4:14).

God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. When God is revealed to the people, they know God as the God with them. God is the one who comes to the people – to us – the one who stays with us, journeys with us through the desert, and helps us find new life. In Jesus, we see how serious God is about being with us. God became one of us. There is nothing human that God has not shared with us.

~ Henri Nouwen John S. Mogabgab, Editor
A Spirituality of Homecoming

From pages 52-53 of A Spirituality of Homecoming by Henri J. M. Nouwen, edited by John S. Mogabgab. Copyright © 2011 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question
Think of times when you have known God to be near. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture
The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the foremost.
1 Timothy 1:15, NRSV

This Week: pray for parents of young children. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section below.

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Saints, Inc.:
This week we remember:
Mother Teresa of Calcutta (September 5).

Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
Psalm 14
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10