3 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.
1 John 3:1-3
Dear God, when I read this passage this morning, I thought of the Amy Grant song, “The Now and the Not Yet.”
No longer what we were before,
But not all that we will be.
Tomorrow, when we lock the door,
On all our compromising,
When He appears,
He’ll draw us near,
And we’ll be changed by His glory,
Wrapped up in His glory….
We will be like Him,
For we shall see Him,
As He is.
No longer what we saw before,
But not all that we will see.
Tomorrow, when we lock the door,
On all our disbelieving,
When He appears (holy, holy),
Our view will clear,
And we’ll be changed by His glory,
Wrapped up in His glory….
But I’m caught in between
The now and the not yet;
Sometimes it seems like
Forever and ever,
That I’ve been reaching to be
All that I am,
But I’m only a few steps nearer,
Yet I’m nearer….
No longer what we were before,
But not all that we will be.
Tomorrow, when we lock the door,
On all our disbelieving,
And He appears (holy, holy),
He’ll draw us near,
And we’ll be changed by His glory,
Wrapped up in His glory….
When He appears (holy, holy),
He’ll draw us near,
And we’ll be changed by His glory,
Wrapped up in His glory….
Source: LyricFind
I can tell I’m different than I used to be. I can tell I’m growing. But I also know what I’m “not.” And I am at least aware enough to know that there are parts that I’m “not” that I can’t tell that I’m “not.” It feels like a number that approaches zero without ever reaching zero. I’m closer, and it feels good to be closer. It feels great to be closer. But the closer I get the father away I sometimes feel because I get a clearer picture of the “not yet.”
Father, draw me one step closer to you today. I’m about to spend at least 12 hours with a good friend. Help us to sharpen each other and grow closer to you through our time together. Minister to him through me. And minister to me through him. And I have some people on my heart this weekend. Please be with them. Be in their hearts. Reveal yourself to them. Help them to choose the narrow gate. You know the specifics of what I’m vaguely saying here. Lead us, Father, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, closer to the “not yet.”
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
Emails to God 