Our small group's discussion today focused on our belonging to God - I am my beloved's and he is mine. Some made comparisons to a dating relationship that leads to marriage. As a man, it is difficult to make that connection, as I have never viewed God as my "boyfriend" or "lover." I get that the context is different, and that isn't really the point I wanted to make.
I do long for the day that I am so in love with God that I want to do nothing but what he wants me to do, instead of seeking to do things I want to do. I want my worth to be found in Christ and for my life to be such a reflection of Christ that people have to recognize that my life is different.
I did relate to my friend, Krista, who was talking about getting married right after college graduation and moving to a new place where no one knew her apart from her husband, Dan. At first, she wanted to have her own identity, but she says that if she met someone now and they didn't meet Dan, she feels like they wouldn't really know her. She drew that parallel to her relationship with Christ, which I think it great.
I had a similar experience when I quit my job, packed up and moved to Cincinnati to be closer to Kate before we were even engaged. I left behind my friends and everything that was familiar just to be closer to her.
That is how we must live with Christ. We have to be willing to drop everything we know, everything that is easy and comfortable, to follow him. I recently wrote about the amazing responses of the first followers of Christ when he said, "Follow me." The common response in their circumstances was to literally leave everything and "immediately" follow him.
Christ is calling us to a life drastically different that what we know - a life full of surprises, discomfort and joy, a life of love, mercy and grace, a life of hope and truth.
We must be found in him.
After the "episode", you really had no choice but to track Kate down and marry here. Good post.
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