In Christ

We went on holiday in our caravan, and all was going well apart from a problem with the electrical connection to the towing car. We needed to use a special adapter to join the cable from the caravan to that of the car, which involved simply inserting the end of one fitting into the other fitting and turning it. However, as much as I tried, it wouldn’t engage, and I asked one of the site staff to help. He also tried and failed, so he went to ask his friend, who was camping on the site. The three of us then pushed and pulled the rubber fitting in a vain attempt to make the connection work. Eventually one of the men picked it up and gently pushed the male and female parts together and amazingly it all clicked together. It didn’t look as if he did anything different, but it all worked. Without that connection, we couldn’t have travelled home from our holiday.

This made me think of Paul’s words to the Colossians, encouraging them to remain connected in Christ. Sometimes it seems hard work to get to that place of connection. We strain and get stressed about our lack of spiritual unity with Jesus, when all He wants us to do is relax into Him. Perhaps you’re at that point of frustration with your lack of feeling that you’re ‘in Christ’. Maybe you’re trying too hard! There’s an old saying: ‘let go and let God’. I’ve had to learn that lesson again recently, when a course I was teaching seemed to overwhelm me.

Without that good connection to Jesus, we’re actually powerless to fulfil His purposes for us. In fact, we shouldn’t even attempt God’s work without it! It would be like me trying to power the lights on my caravan by putting my fingers in the socket and expecting the lights to work.

As an extra blessing, Father God gives us His Holy Spirit to assist in making the connection. It’s not just up to us to keep the connection by our self-will. Obviously, we have a choice to keep close to God or not, but really, without the Holy Spirit, the power can’t flow. Like my friend on the campsite, who turned the fitting in the right way and made my intention into a reality, so the Holy Spirit will help us to connect with God, if that’s our heart’s desire.

Prayer: Thank You, heavenly Father, that You want to be connected to us always. We’re sorry for the times when we’ve allowed the connection to be broken by our wrong choices and actions. Please empower us by Your Holy Spirit, so we remain in Christ – rooted and built up in Him. Amen.