Prodigal God January 18, 2010

This week we’re going to share with you books that we’re reading and how they’re affecting us.  Not a book review, really; we’ll be sharing an  excerpt and how it’s helping us personally.  We begin with Debi who is sharing about Prodigal God, by Timothy Keller.

I recently finished this book and when asked to share with you on this topic – I knew the exact quote I wanted to share.  It was the only one I remembered off the top of my head – quite miraculous these days!

This section of the book is about relationships and how vital they are to our growth in godliness.  He shares an example from C.S. Lewis’ life that has had a lasting impact on how I value relationships in the church:

“C.S. Lewis was part of a famous circle of friends called the Inklings, which included J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings, and also the author Charles Williams, who died unexpectedly after World War II.  In his book The Four Loves, Lewis wrote a striking meditation on his death in an essay entitled “Friendship.”

In each of my friends there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out.  By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets.  Now that Charles [Williams] is dead, I shall never again see Ronald’s [Tolkien's] reaction to a specifically Charles joke.  Far from having more of Ronald, having him “to myself” now that Charles is away, I have less of Ronald…In this, Friendship exhibits a glorious “nearness by resemblance” to heaven itself where the very multitude of the blessed (which no man can number) increases the fruition which each of us has of God.  For every soul, seeing Him in her own way, doubtless communicates that unique vision to all the rest.   That, says an old author, is why the Seraphim in Isaiah’s vision are crying “holy, Holy, Holy” to one another (Isaiah 6:3).  The more we thus share the Heavenly Bread between us, the more we shall have.

Lewis is saying that it took a community to know an individual.  How much more would this be true of Jesus Christ?  Christians commonly say they want a relationship with Jesus, that they want to “get to know Jesus better.”  You will never be able to do that by yourself.  You must be deeply involved in the church, in Christian community, with strong relationships of love and accountability. Only if you are part of a community of believers seeking to resemble, serve, and love Jesus will you ever get to know him and grow into his likeness.”

What a precious picture of how each of us reflect the Savior.  I know more of Him by being friends with you!  This draws my heart to long to know others – to draw them out about their love for Jesus.  We need each other as Mom to Mom, but also friend to friend.  This has had a lasting impact on how I value each friend with whom God has blessed me.  Through them I will learn more about Christ – and this will last forever!

Posted by Debi