Yancey Quote 1 -- God's Already Here: is He Visible?

Hey, Y'all,

Here're a couple of RSTs that one of you sent my way after hearing Philip Yancey speak...kind of cool, gets you thinking about your place in the world...

He said a couple of things that stuck in my mind: "God is already here. It's our job to make Him visible." He also commented that one thing he learned while pursuing his hobby of hiking was that "God is God, and we are not."

The first quote brings a lot of texts to mind of course but the first one is Matthew 25:34-40 which says:

"Then the King will say to those on the right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'"

And of course right behind it was Galatians 5:22, 23:

"But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." This list of characteristics stands in sharp contrast to verses 19-21 which describe the life without God's steadying and bettering influence: "When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, excessive eagerness for pleasure, idolatry [putting other things first before your relationship with God], participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, division, discord, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and many other kinds of sin."

So there it is--"God is already here. It's our job to make Him visible." How's that going for you?


You've been prayed for today...

(Tomorrow we'll talk about the second quote).