Recently I wrote about how Jesus is looking for partakers, not just observers, spectators or contributors.
What I considered at the time of writing was the importance that when Jesus invites us to be partakers, he invites us to be partakers in the divine life. Through His broken body and shed blood, He allows us to taste of what it is to have the light of life living inside. It’s incredible again reading what Peter tells his readers concerning their position by faith.
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:3, 4)
As I looked more at what the partaker life involved, I was reminded about the aspect of not just taking part in who Jesus is and living by the power of his life. There was also the element about the nature of relationships with others.
On this blog from time to time I’ve written about confession. It’s something very dear to me, because I’m very used to keeping things very close to my chest. Just how close was apparent when I got married. I was very used to being the confidant listening carefully to what was going on with others. I chose not to be as forthcoming with what was going on inside. That was usually because what I felt was going on inside wasn’t usually good.
There is something about freedom in Christ that actually makes it healthy and in our best interests to expose what’s going on inside to the light of who Jesus is. That works well in personal intimate conversations with Christ. It is however something that helps relationships. If your brother and sister can hear you share what’s going on inside, and can lovingly challenge any ungodly behaviour without condemning you, that solidifies the relationship.
I heard someone say recently that they could be who they are wherever they are because they can live without any skeletons in the closet. There was nothing that people could say to them to hurt them in that area anymore. Those who knew them loved them for who they are. Those who didn’t care to know them had no ammunition to decimate their character, because of the loving people around them who would always reaffirm them because they were in Christ.
Let me stress again, I am not in favour of the sort of ‘get it off your chest to all and sundry’ full disclosure. It isn’t necessary. Confessional communities is more about the safe place to be, rather than forcing people to puke up every gory detail of every gory sin they’ve ever committed.
Those who have been redeemed and forgiven of much by God, know what it is to be set free. That freedom and the gratitude that follows it, allows us to make space for other people to experience that freedom painful step by painful step among loving brothers and sisters.
It took the brink of the breakdown of my marriage to begin to experience that. It was not just my beloved that helped me discover that, but various experiences of informal Christian communities and relationships based on that command to love. It can happen, it is another area in which the Body of Christ shows the world who we are because of the love we have for each other.
It’s another area where we can bring the dark things that threaten to hold us to the light of his love.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 