Human Being Before Doing

Malvern Community, 

Last week I had to pop to Sydney for a few days.  

One thing struck me again about Sydneysiders: they’re fantastic drivers. 

They cruise around their swirly, complex city with speed and efficiency. And they’re unfailingly polite. I only had to think about turning, and the car behind was pulling back, ready to let me in. 

They’re funny terms really: Sydneysiders. Melburnians. Brisbanites.

I wonder if you think of yourself as primarily Adelaidian or South Australian? Perhaps it's swayed by whether you grew up rural or in the city? 

(Why does the Riverland produce so many good footballers?)

When I was on Mitcham Council there was always a soft rivalry between the hills and plains residents. Adelaidians also tends to also think of ourselves as either North and South. Perhaps also proudly from the Western suburbs.

I’m interested in how cultural markers help form our identity. Sometimes we wear them proudly. Sometimes like baggage. And, sometimes, obliviously. But it’s interesting to consider what place we call home.

In this series, Identity in Christ, we’re exploring how we flourish when we more deeply step into the identity received from Jesus.

In John 15:4-5, Jesus says to his disciples, "Abide in me as I abide in you”.

Jesus is inviting us to make our home in him. To live in communion with, and continually receive your life from him. 

To live from the security of his presence, love, and life. 

Correspondingly, he makes his home in us. The indwelling presence of his Holy Spirit becoming the deepest reality of who we are.
 
Life is about increasingly embracing the liberating truth of our union with Jesus. Making our home in Jesus as he makes his home in us. 

Until Sunday, have a great week!
Tim