Out of place

I continue to be fascinated with the idea of how a sense of space affects the human condition. I've learned over the years how important it is to take roots in the land of your calling, but i see more and more how much a place affects our lives and personalities. Place provides our relationships. Our relationships shape our character and provide our opportunities. We've said many times before, the reason we live where we do is not because of the cool things to do on weekends here, but because of the quality of relationships we have.

Context is where everything makes sense with its surroundings. In church you have heard from time to time, someone being accused of taking scripture "out of context". This means that the meaning of a scripture can only be rightly discerned in relationship to those around it. The same is true for people in general. The context of a person's life reveals part of the person. Being aligned with the right people will propel you forward into your calling. Being out of alignment with those around you, or being involved with the wrong influences and people can stifle your growth.

People who constantly find themselves out of place or out of context feel at odds with the world around them. Many times they may feel that the world is set against them rather than working with or for them to accomplish their dreams. (or even to get them through the day).

The sense of place is so important that even the Lord Himself declares that He will be a place for His people. What? God is a person. Of course. But God has said in Isaiah 33:21, "there the majestic LORD will be for us A place of broad rivers and streams". What about Paul who said that "in Him we live and move and have our being"? Again, the Lord declares in Isaiah 60:19-2o,
"The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you; but the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. Your sun shall no longer go down, nor shall your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light."
Revelation 21:23 echoes this when it says, "The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light."

Lastly, Paul refers to us several times as being found "in Christ". God is a place. When we are found in Him, we have found our place; the place where we may thrive. The place where we belong. The place where we are fruitful, where the soil is rich and right. Where the sun that shines is His very Presence; where the right amount of water brings forth that which in in our hearts to produce.







Comments

  1. Wow. I LOVE this. You put words to the thoughts and feelings I've had within me for a long time. He is so much more than a person...and you used some of my fav scriptures to do it (the Isaiah and Rev parts).

    So cool to meet you last night, thanks to you & the band for coming up to little ol' Boone! :)

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