Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is … Absence.
Parenting. We think the birthing process is laborious. The arduous journey has only just begun on that day, for the real work continues on for years.
We hope to raise children who know and love God, and seek to develop godly character. Our hope is even in our absence, even when we leave this earth, they will continue to seek God and grow in His ways.
Paul felt the same way about those to whom he had shared the gospel.
“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13, NASB)
Paul had invested into the lives of the Philippians. His words have continued to invest into lives down through the ages.
In the physical absence of Christ from this earth, we have been left with His Word and the Holy Spirit. Both continue to work in our lives, changing us to be more like Jesus. Both continue to work out God will in our lives as God pleases.
In His absence,
we allow His Spirit to work in us,
for His purposes and for His pleasure.
Photo by Céline Druguet on Unsplash
Today I may be joining …
I don’t see Christ right round here,
and there are some folks say He’s dead,
but I shall have another beer
and posit to them all, instead,
that He left things that He had spoken,
and the things that He had done,
so that the line might be unbroken
which showed that He is the Son
of the God who reigns on high,
Three in One and One in Three
(I don’t ken that on the fly!),
but He does have family tree
that most forcefully suggests
that following might be the best.
He is so kind to lead us through His Word and by His Holy Spirit, Joanne.
Thank you, Joanne, for reminding us we always have God’s guidance in His Word and we always have His Presence even in His absence through His spirit!
So beautiful Joanne. When we embrace the absence of Christ, we can find new ways to experience His presence and to grow in our faith. This can be a challenging journey, but it’s also a journey of great hope and joy.
FMF #6
In His absence, we have His presence through the power of the Holy Spirit. What a reassuring reality
Thank you for this encouraging reminder.
Amen and amen!
Thank you for sharing your words in public.
Nicely spoken. FMF15
Thank you, Joanne