God is on the move, and the word for joining him is with. Jim Mullins’s cherry red guitar story shows the problem: a person can dream about making beautiful music, yet walk away before learning the simple notes. God’s unconditional love puts a desire in people to see family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers come alive to that same love. But God’s mission usually begins with ordinary, patient practices of presence.
With is the way God moves toward the world. Matthew names Jesus Emmanuel, God with us, and John says that the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among humanity. God did not shout the rescue plan from heaven or send a detached idea. Christ came near with a beating heart, chapped lips, childhood friends, splinters from carpentry, tired afternoons, suffering, rejection, and even tilapia in his teeth. Jesus did not merely look at human pain. Jesus entered it.
With is also the way God moves his people toward the world. Jesus says, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you,” and then breathes the Holy Spirit on his disciples. Incarnational presence means coming near enough to be known, to experience another person’s humanity, to be hurt, to touch the wounded, and to speak hope person to person. The Spirit makes this possible, so Christ’s people do not carry out his mission alone.
The gift of today becomes the first place to practice this with life. God gives one body, one story, and one day for obedience: today. The past can be met through confession, forgiveness, and growth, but those actions can only happen today. The future cannot be forced into existence either. God calls his people to be present to his presence in the life they actually have and attentive to the people actually around them.
Eyes up and head up become another simple note. Phones can fill every dead moment, but a smile, a conversation, a listening ear, or a quiet offer of prayer can become a holy interruption. Isidore’s ordinary life shows how faithful presence can be seen in daily prayer, open tables, generosity, and care for hungry birds.
Localized love gives that presence a place to grow. God may call people across the world, but he also calls them to put down roots among neighbors, classmates, coworkers, family members, and friends. The normal stuff, lived with joyful gospel intentionality, becomes a place where Christ’s unconditional love can be seen and heard.
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Key Takeaways
- 1. God comes near before sending. God’s rescue mission does not begin at a safe distance. Christ takes on real humanity and steps into the grit, pain, loneliness, and limits of human life. His presence reveals that love is not merely concern for suffering but a willingness to enter it. [06:13]
- 2. Incarnational presence risks being known. Jesus sends his people “as” the Father sent him, which means nearness is not optional. Presence brings the possibility of hurt, misunderstanding, and inconvenience, yet it also creates space for hope to be spoken person to person. The Holy Spirit gives courage for this kind of costly love. [13:36]
- 3. Today is the day for obedience. The past cannot be redone, and tomorrow cannot be lived ahead of time. Confession, forgiveness, preparation, and growth become real only in the present moment God has given. Faithfulness grows when attention returns to the body, story, and day already in hand. [15:51]
- 4. Keep eyes open for holy interruptions. A phone can make people invisible in the ordinary pauses of a day. A lifted head, a smile, a question, or an offer to pray may uncover a burden carried by someone nearby. God often involves his people in unexpected ways when they are actually present. [21:30]
- 5. Localize love and stay rooted. Deep love usually requires more than occasional contact. Family, schools, workplaces, hobbies, and neighborhoods become places to linger, listen, serve, and speak Christ’s hope over time. Staying may require saying no to good things so that relationships with those far from Jesus can grow.
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