I AM – Willing
There are times when reading the Bible, I find a passage that causes me to pause, to meditate, to dig deep into its meaning. Recently I explored one of those passages. “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”Colossians 1:19-21 (NLT)
After looking up definitions of words and doing some research, this passage spoke to me in this way, For God in all his fullness (all that God is – every attribute – the sum total of His deity, His righteousness, power and love) was pleased (willing and glad; happy; satisfied) to live in Christ, (take on human flesh, face temptation, physically suffer) and through him God reconciled (restored a relationship; made peace; settled our differences) everything to himself. He made peace with everything (all that exists) in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. (the expression of God’s justice and grace, reminding us of the serious nature and consequences of sin.)
This verse sums up the willingness of God to restore a relationship with mankind. Tim Keller in his book, The Reason for God, explains that in a healthy love relationship there must be mutual sacrifice. The parties must say, “I will adjust to you. I will change for you. I will serve you.” In the most radical way, God has adjusted to us. He willingly became flesh and willingly fulfilled the justice required so that sin could no longer separate us from a relationship with Him.
How can it be that almighty God, the Great I AM is willing to serve me? Once again, I started digging. While in the presence of God at the burning bush, Moses asked, “When they ask me, ’What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” God responded, “I AM who I AM.” There are many explanations, some from scholars, some from a biblical perspective, some from the dictionary. The name for God found in the King James version of the Bible is the four-letter name YHWH, a shortened version of YAHWEY. The Hebrew meaning is “the Self-existent,” “He who becometh,” or “the becoming one.” One biblical definition of I AM is “I will be who I will be.”
This open-ended response from God revealed to Moses a promise that He would become whatever they would need Him to become. What a promise! The unchanging God of Moses responds to us in the same way. He tells us, “For all that you lack and are not – I AM.” This reveals that not only is God the all-sufficient One, He is willing to become what we need Him to be.
God wants to show us what He can accomplish through us if we declare those same words, “I am – available, willing, trusting.” Our mutual sacrifice is to give up our freedom in order to find freedom in Him. The resulting love relationship is possible only because the great I AM is willing.
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:6-8 (NLT)
Carol, what a great indepth Study! I am so grateful that Christ is willing to embrace us and forgive us.
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom with us. Some days I am still in awe how God has reconciled us to Himself.
Your post demonstrates the limitless treasure of digging into the Word. I enjoy and savor your details.