The Joy of Proximity: Day 16 of Joy
He is God in human form.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
— John 1:1, 14 CSB
Religion is often presented as a climb up an infinite ladder. We end up using a human perspective to determine how much “better” we need to be to reach God. Spoiler alert: ladders don’t reach God. And, our next devotional series, simply titled “Enough,” will focus on the only condition necessary for salvation.
The blueprint of the Gospel is not an upward climb. The ultimate foundation for an unsinkable joy is this: He is God in human form.
The Creator didn’t just send a message; He became the Message. He didn’t just look down with pity; He “dwelt among us.” Dwelt in this context implies He “pitched His tent” in our neighborhood. He took on “dust” and experienced everything you do: hunger, exhaustion, and especially the sting of betrayal.
God is not a distant concept to be studied, but a Person to be known. Because He became flesh, your joy isn’t based on your ability to reach Him, but on the fact that He has already reached you.
The 90/10 Rule of Proximity
[read this article to learn more about the 90/10 rule]
The 10%: Your feelings of inadequacy and the “distance” you feel from God when life is hard or you’ve made a mistake.
...90%: The historical, theological fact that the Word became flesh. He is not “out there,” He is here, and He is “full of grace and truth.”
If you focus on the 10 percent, you will always feel like you are shouting into a void. When you give the 90 percent of your attention to the fact that He is God in human form, your joy finds its anchor. He knows what it’s like to be you, and He has the power to sustain you.
Today, as you go about your mundane tasks, remind yourself: “The God who made the universe did things like this, too.” Inviting the “God in human form” into your ordinary moments transforms them from a chore into a source of joy.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I stand in awe of Your humility. Thank You for not staying distant, but for becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Today, I find my joy in the fact that You are “God with us.” Thank You for Your grace and truth that meet me right where I am. Amen.
View all messages in the series at: www.faithsaves.us/t/joy-series-faith-saves-us