Donald Wickham’s Blog

When Jesus gave us an example of prayer, we call it the “Lord’s Prayer”, he started it with “Our Father”.  He could have told us to pray “My Father” and that would be true and very comforting.  To know, and live, with the truth that God is our Father, our Dad.  That he knows us completely and loves us.  But Jesus didn’t.  He said “Our”.

One of our major challenges, especially us men, is that we isolate.  We believe we are on our own and life is up to us to figure out.  And we take this tendency into our relationship with Jesus.  It’s “me and you, Jesus”.  Our focus, if we even think about it me centered with Jesus added on.  Now I’m not negating the importance of each of us needing to make an individual, personal, acceptance of Christ into our life, nor the need to be independently dependent on Holy Spirit.  What I’ve been coming to recognize, more and more, is the importance of “Our”.

As Jesus was facing his last hours before his death, he prayed for his followers (including us!).  He could have prayed about so many things.  But in Jesus’ last extended prayer in John 17, he really bore down on unity, oneness and being like the Godhead.  I find that very, very intriguing.  Since this oneness, we often call this community, is so important to him, shouldn’t it be important to us as well?  I think so.

So, as I, and I hope, we, move into this refocusing away from “myself” to “us”, what might that look like?

• Choosing to live in “Our” even though we don’t really know what that looks like.  Not waiting for God to show us how to do it so we can then decide if we “like” that.  Choosing now to live in community, unity and oneness however God leads each group to live.
• Praying for others.  Letting Holy Spirit guide us on what is on his heart and what he is doing in others’ lives and praying about that.
• Letting Jesus deal with our “stuff” so we are more enjoyable for others to be around.  And when our stuff causes some conflict, and it sure will, learning to not take offence and be quick to forgive.  And asking other for forgiveness.
• Choosing to join with others intimately.  Oy, that word again.  Us guys are not very comfortable with that word but let’s move past that.  To live in close relationship, knowing others and being known by them.  Letting Holy Spirit transform us “together”.   Being there for others.  Finding that small band of fellow travelers that God wants us to join with.  And letting the power that small group provides, flow into the larger gatherings of believers.
• Living in this newness humbly without looking down on those who haven’t yet experienced the joys we are learning to relish.  Inviting them in, not condemning or pushing.
• Asking Holy Spirit for insights and revelations to share with others for their encouragement.  Sharing the gifts God had placed in me for the benefit of others and for God’s glory.

I think there is a lot more opportunity for living in “us” instead of “me”.  I look forward to seeing how Father reveals it for us.

Tags:   community · Encouragement · forgive · humbly · isolate · oneness · our father · prayer · relationship · unityNo Comments