Reflections for the Journey: Christ Among Us
Author: Rev. Dr. R. Franklin Gillis, Jr.
A story is told about a monastery in the forest that had fallen into disrepair, and its monks aging with no new recruits joining them. The abbot of the monastery had grown desperate, aware that if the old monks all died, that their order would be lost. So, the abbot traveled to the edge of the forest to meet with an equally old rabbi, hoping that learning from someone outside their circle might rejuvenate their order, saving his monastery. After spending some time catching up on the time that they had been apart, the abbot turned to the rabbi and asked, “What must we do to turn things around in the monastery?”
The rabbi replied, “You must pursue God with complete abandon, as the Christ is among you.” The abbot returned to the monastery, gathered his fellow monks, and announced, “The Christ is among us.” For the next few days, the monks met in groups of two and three to whisper to each other, “Which one is the Christ?” While no one seemed to know the answer, their belief that the Christ was one of them became a stimulus to the way that they saw their work, loving each other with abandon. Soon, they began to travel with news of the gospel to others around the forest, and before too long, the monastery was again a destination for those seeking God’s guidance and love. Christ’s presence among them had rejuvenated an old body of faith and reminded it of its purpose and life.
What would happen if we saw each other as potentially the Christ, especially given our belief that the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer? It’s hard to imagine what our world would be like if only this was our reality! Knowing this potential equips us for revealing Christ in our daily living, especially in relationship to others.
Among the last words Jesus shared with his disciples were these: Love one another as I have loved you. By this all will know you are my disciples if you love one another. It wasn’t a suggestion. It was an imperative. The love Jesus lived and taught was sacrificial and unconditional. This is the kind of love Christianity is based upon. And this is the kind of love that we as Christians must strive to reflect in our lives.
Song: In Christ Alone – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQCpxt0XRoc
About the Author:
The Rev. Dr. R. Franklin Gillis has been a resident of the Richmond area for 30 years. He served on the Richmond District as senior pastor of Bon Air UMC, and Richmond District Superintendent prior to his retirement. Writing a devotional, “Reflections for the Journey,” is a part of his weekly disciplines.
