In His Likeness w/ AntTBri

One of the advantages of my childhood is that I was groomed, governed, and grounded within the auspices of faith.  I’ve been around, apart, and amongst those desiring to grow their understanding, relationship, communication, connection, and communion with God all my life. Christianity and “church” is all I know in many respects.  So I feel confident in addressing a common theme discovered in my youth and distinct to my growth process…the absence of joy in our living and loving in Christ. Growing up and sadly to say even now I am still shocked by the lack of joy in the way we live and love as believers…discouraged by the fact that many a Christians…appear not to be happy or enjoying their connection to God…there is no appeal, attraction, or application of joy in the manner in which they live and love although they confess the risen Christ.

I’ve always looked for, wondered about, and questioned the existence of joy (as it is defined biblically) which may very well be the reason why I look people directly in the eye when communicating with them.  I want to see if their smile is genuine, if there is a natural glimmer and spark that illuminates from their existence (especially when they say or present themselves as a fellow believer). There is a certain passion, posture, and presence about individuals possessing joy…it is infectious, intriguing, and invigorating to the heart and soul. Joy recognizes joy or as it is often said game recognizes game…in my heart of hearts I really want to witness and experience authentic dialogue, discipline, and discipleship in the faith. I’m looking for the God connection…the common thread between us…the likeness unto Christ.  It is my natural assumption that as believers we share the same spiritual DNA…we’re blood family and with my natural family not very much escapes my viewing…if something is wrong, missing, or off I notice it almost immediately although I may not always speak on it right away but I am very intentional about staying connected and addressing the concern while letting them know that I care.   So it does me no good to exude and express complete joy when I notice that it is not common occurrence within the hearts of those with whom I am spiritually connected, communicating and sharing faith’s communion.

So this is an extension of that familia concern expressed on the behalf of our Father to my fellow sisters and brothers…we are loved completely, entirely for all eternity by the all-encompassing God…He has engrafted us into His family and by extension given us the opportunity to image His essence to the world.  We are not our own…everything about us…the way we live and love is representation of whom we are. How we say, do, and respond to life and love reflects our relationship with the one true God. As believers, Christians, and children of God we have to be intentional about our depiction, display, and demonstration of faith.  How do we do this: we make a conscious decision to remain in and replicate the love of our Father that our JOY will be made complete in him.  Joy is found, realized, and proven to be so through acceptance of the Word…that is the advantage and agreement of being a part, amidst, and amongst the family of God. The Word produces and provides love that is reciprocated by our obedience unto God the Father.  His love of us, expressed toward us (through His son Jesus), remains and results in complete joy in us…which bears much fruit.  The bible affirms that we know a tree by the fruit it bears…it also asserts that fruit inspection is the proof of our confession.  Regardless of what we say we know and profess to have our choice in terms of how we live and love determines, depicts, and displays our demonstration of joy.

The eyes don’t lie nor does the vacancy or glazed over pretension masked behind fake smiles and mean dispositions; cover the fact that what we say we have is absent. If we told the truth about our mind sets and heart posture toward our faith in God, ourselves, and others we would have to admit there is no real authentic joy.  We are not happy, we are dissatisfied, disappointed, and we disagree with how life and love is playing out before us because deep inside we maintain our right to choose to do and say what we please…we have not and refuse to sell out completely to the commands of the Father.  Absolute obedience is foolishness/fraudulent/ficticous…we don’t fully buy in or commit to the requirements of a lasting, living, loving relationship with God.  We want God but on our terms negating the fact that we have to live and love based upon His terms if we’re going to experience and express joy. The harsh reality for many of us is that we’re miserable on the inside although we claim to be content…have contentment with godliness…as if the truth is not visibly apparent and the lie is adequately disguised.  Many of us flash a smile, pretend to be satisfied, project sanctification, and proclaim salvation but present life and love in Christ like a dreaded death sentence…that is plagued with undo sacrifice and plummeted by unjust suffering. Even worst is the depiction made by those of us who attend church regularly, quote scriptures verbatim, and are mean as a junk yard dogs…discontent, disgruntled, and disposition-ally dark in the way we think, the things we say and do, and the way we treat ourselves and others.

Observation’s seat has taught me a plenty of things about God, myself, and others. Most of which, I must confess involves watching and praying forth the purposes of God for our being and doing. Here lately I’ve been watching and praying that we (all believers) experience the reality of God’s joy. That we, all my brothers and sisters become His expression of love and exude the reality of Joy in our living and loving. Joy in the Lord…rest, replicate, and reproduce from the strength of God.  He enables, empowers, and energizes all our successful efforts! May we enjoy loving and living in/with God, ourselves and others and display, depict, and demonstrate faith that is attractive, appealing, and applicable among, amidst, around, and a part of families and friends.   What I find puzzling about the things I’ve read, heard, witnessed, and even experienced thus far in the faith, family, and fellowship is the paradox of our attainment of a new life in Christ. If we are new creatures/new creations…then we should think and act, respond and do differently right?  We ought to… no we are obligated to live and love according to the new nature right… why are we still living and loving in the old then?  We are identified with a risen, victorious, triumphant Savior…engrafted into royalty…a part of the kingdom of God infused by the Word with complete joy that produces love. We’ve surpassed connection, communication, and communion we are in an everlasting covenant…that is Good News…that is the reality of  joy…this is what we as believers should exude and express on a continuum. Enjoy life and love in Christ and produce much, more fruit that our Father in heaven may be glorified in the earth~AntTBri