FOCUS ON LIVING

“ The Journey ”
THERE are several things that come together when
someone makes a commitment to live the Christian life.
Some are straightforward and some are profound.
A fundamental practice of our relationship with anyone
is that we speak to them, for none of us would expect to get
very far with knowing anyone, or showing a hope of being
known by them, if we didn’t bother to communicate to them
in a frequent, honest, positive way. Prayer has a central place
in the Christian’s life, and Jesus is the one mediator who can
bridge the gap between him or her and God. Because Jesus
is that mediator, prayers are prayed to God in Jesus’ name.
Whatever could it mean to pray “in Jesus’ name”? We
can all know or imagine what it would mean if we received
a pounding on the door at midnight with someone shouting,
“Open up in the name of the law!”. It would be very clear
that “in the name of the law” meant “by the authority of the
law”, indicating that there is some official weight borne by
that authority. In the same way, Jesus, has authority behind
him in acting as a mediator between people and God, and
the Bible confirms that authority, “For there is one God, and
one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”
(I Timothy 2.5). Prayer is the key to our communication with
God.
Then there are benefits that fall into the realm of the
profound. God has power. It is a mistake to imagine God as
toothless, or doddering, or inattentive or dreamy. He is sharp,
and if we wish our welfare to be kept an eye on, we will want
that to be in the hands of One who is sharp. And because
his attention is on us, we will have the advantage of his
guidance.
In a thousand ways we can know that God has power,
but the one that hits home with most of us is the power that
raised Jesus from the dead, which the Bible describes as,
“… the exceeding greatness of his power in us who believe,
according to the working of his great might, which he worked
in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him
at his right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:19, 20).
This is personal to us, because underneath all our hopes and
fears lies that of our own death and the hope that that same
power will raise us to eternal life.
However, that is putting the end before the journey to
the end. It is on the journey through life that we can receive
the benefit of God’s vigilance and power.

If you do not own a Bible, phone 0439 401 813 or e-mail: cowrachurchofchrist@gmail.com, and a New King James Version Bible will be sent to you
SPONSORING

RM6858757
without charge or obligation. The Cowra Church of Christ sponsors this article. The church meets on the second and last Sunday of the month at the
Nguluway Meeting Room between the Library and the Art Gallery, Darling Street, Cowra. Starting times - Church Service 10:00am, Morning Tea
ADVERTISEMENT 11:00am. Everyone is welcome. Enquiries: phone 0439 401 813 or e-mail Richard Birkett: cowrachurchofchrist@gmail.com.