That Christian Next Door

“You will know them by their fruits” – Matthew 7 vs 16 NRSV.

When we ask for a sign of God, it is worth considering our motivations for such a request.

Is it because we are in dire straits and it feels like life has thrown the full force of its weight at us? Perhaps a relative is sick, or a spouse has being unfaithful or maybe nothing about life in its current form is joyful or in any way fulfilling.

Understandably, in such cases, an experience of the divine can feel like the only worthwhile remedy.

For those blessed to grow up in functional homes surrounded by love, the reassuring voice or calming touch of parents can be incredibly therapeutic in traumatic times. For some, the same comfort may be found in siblings, best friends or even strangers. However, some others, in a desire to feel the same comfort or even to feel nothing, may turn to drugs or alcohol or whatever it is.

The point is: as a constant feature of life, times come in everyone’s life when the usual coping mechanisms we have are overwhelmed and we need to reach out for more.

There are people whose more is God. Of these, there are some for whom God at certain times seems to be more than their usual more. These are people who may take the bold step to ask for a God they do not know or for a sign of him or for an unusual occurrence that signifies his attention. Of these people, there are many who end up disappointed – no God shows up, no sign comes and nothing unusual happens.

In Matthew 7 vs 14, Jesus speaks some important words that touch on this matter. In this verse, He was making the point that people should be known and understood based on who they are and not only by what they say. In James 1 vs 22 NRSV, the author James, who was Jesus’ half-brother, digs deeper into the theme of identity, saying “be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves”. This word is God’s words which include His rules, His laws and His examples.

Asking for God cannot be separated from doing something that signifies a desire for Him to be close. If we must ask for God, then we should take actions that both show that we want Him close and that He can come close. James again puts it simply in chapter 4 vs 8 (NRSV) of his self-titled book: “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” If as you read this, you have asked for God and did not get to experience Him like you hoped you would, do not be a hearer only of James 1 vs 22 or 4 vs 8. Work towards being a doer.

Do the word. If you have been separate from God, then your doing task would be taking action to close the gap between you and Him by removing the separators. Sin is a separator. Sexual intercourse outside of a marriage environment is a separator. A lack of back and forth communication between God and you is a separator. Anger, hatred, jealousy, unbelief in God, discrimination, racism etcetera: all of these and more are separators. Why ask for God if your true intention is to remain separate from Him? And why be disappointed if He is not where you want Him to be?

To get a deeper understanding of Matthew 7 vs 16, make God the subject of the verse. So, by His fruits we know Him. By who He is and not just what He says, we know Him. So, when we call out for God, to see and experience Him in the best and worst moments of our lives, we must not just call out, we must call out to Him with the intention to know Him and with actions (like destroying our man-made separators and repenting) that allow Him to make himself known to us.