Living Deeply

"And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we'll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives."  1 John 2:28 (The Message)

Alyssa, Kyle and Papa (1999)

I love how the Message paraphrases the verse above: "Live deeply in Christ."  I just want to ponder that today.

"Live deeply in Christ."

Oh, my deepest hope and prayer for Lyssa and Kyle.

Lord, I pray that Alyssa and Kyle come to love you, and live deeply in you. May they not be tempted to just know of you, and live in the knowledge of what they've learned about you since they were little, but choose to strive to KNOW you deeper and better.  Sideline observers get a small taste of you, but those who choose to participate face to face in a relationship with you, experience first-hand the Living Water.  You, Lord, quench every thirst, and satisfy the deepest of hungers.  But living deeply in You is a choice one has to make every day.  Lord, spur our children on to laying down their selfish desires, or worldly yearnings, and to seek first your Kingdom, with their entire heart.  And now, Jesus, help Alyssa and Kyle to stay with you. Move them to live deeply in you. Then they'll be ready when you appear, ready to receive you with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when you arrive.  I pray, Lord, that they love you deeper than I can ever imagine, because you are the One that I love.