Top Down or Bottom Up?

John 1:9-12 – The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. (NIV)

Are you a "God reaches down to us" or a "we stretch up to find God" sort of person?

As a boy, I found God by reaching up towards my creator as I looked to the cosmos through a telescope. Later, I pictured an awesome policeman God, who only had to say the word from a great height, and I would be no longer. Well, I am still here, for the present anyway. Why am I here? From a "God reaching down" perspective, all we have to rely on is His living word revelation through Jesus to bring salvation to us.

Time and time again, I find myself guilty of failure, of wilfulness, of ignorance, of compassion fatigue, or perhaps just selfish indifference to the plight of others. Yet I also find that, when I look towards God, He has reached down to me, willing to forgive, to cleanse, and to remind me of His love and His sovereign authority over me and His creation. Yes, there will come a judgement. Yes, there are consequences for our actions. But there are also compassion, deliverance, and grace. Jesus loves this world, and He reaches in to dwell with us.

Prayer: Lord, no matter what has happened, or where we are, we are Yours, because we have come into Your presence once more to ask for Your cleansing by the blood of Your sacrifice made once for all. Forgive, we pray, our indifference, and touch our lives again with Your presence and vitality. Inspire us and enable us to be keen to seek Your face and to do Your will no matter what the circumstances. Teach us what it is to pray once more. Praise Your holy name. Amen.