7

October

The locus of God’s presence

“The locus of God’s presence and activity is not found in the corridors of great power.  The Gospels tell of a God who shows up in surprising places.  His greatest place of action is hidden from the eyes of the socially powerful.  His reach touches everything, but the center of it is hidden.”- Rich Villodas

“But when the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”- John 16:13 (NIV)

Rich Villodas continues Chapter 3 of The Narrow Path as he talks about one of Jesus’ best lessons on the importance of hiddenness.  A lesson in which Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit.  First, Rich cites Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of Jesus’ words in John 16:13.  In The Message, Peterson uses the phrase “won’t draw attention to himself.”

Hence, that explains why some people refer to the Holy Spirit as the Hidden Spirit.  Therefore, Rich observes, the Holy Spirit shows deference to Jesus.  As a result, the Holy Spirit spotlights Jesus.  Instead of hogging the limelight, the Spirit delights in making the Son central.

Within the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit never jockey for position.  Rather, the three are radically other-focused.  So, Rich explains, here’s the main idea:

“If the Spirit is secure in the love of the Trinity and if the Spirit lives inside you, he wants to make you secure too.  He wants to remind you that you are loved by God.  You are accepted by God.  But ordering life around that theological truth requires concrete, counter-instinctual practices.”

In conclusion, Pastor Villodas offers as well as describes three such practices to help live an anti-performance life.  To get off the treadmill of posturing.  These practices serve as the subject of the next blog.

Today’s question: What Bible verses, Christian books or hymns help you live in the locus of God’s presence?  Please share.

Tomorrow’s blog: “Seasons of Sabbath and fasting”

About the author 

Dave Henning

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