on the nearness of Christ

While the evangelical culture in which I was raised undoubtedly emphasized Jesus within the Trinity (you know Catholics/Lutherans emphasize the Father, Pentecostals emphasize the Holy Spirit, Evangelicals emphasize Jesus, and Baptists of course emphasize the rules), I somehow escaped from my childhood with a transcendent view of Jesus rather than an imminent view of Him. I would not likely be found guilty of a "Jesus is my homeboy!" kind of marginalizing of the character and nature of Christ. But in my overemphasis of the "Godness" of Jesus, I had not clearly/fully seen the "humanness" of Jesus, the availability of Jesus, the friendship of Jesus, the nearness of Jesus.

Profound deep inner rest, "band of brothers" kind of strength in the face of temptation/trials, the connection my heart aches for: all of these are the part of why Jesus came as a human, so that we could relate to him as a human.

What a glorious God that would condescend to meet us face to face; Emmanuel, God WITH us!

The thought makes me smile and set my jaw to face the day and walk in victory.