There is a line from the Presbyterian Catechism (teachings) that has always caught and held my attention:  Our purpose in life is "to know God and make God known."     That is such an awesome motto for a believer's life and living!   For me, it summarizes very succintly our mission and purpose in this world.    We are placed on this earth, in this world, to know and experience God and his love, grace and justice.    And, not only are we to know God, we are also to make God known to others....so that they too may know and experience his love, grace and justice.

This faith/purpose statement  informs and instructs that the Christian life is not about "me and Jesus we got our own thing going" (to quote a bluegrass gospel song).    Rather, the Christian life is to be lived in the context of community.    And, in addition, this Christian community (church, fellowship, etc.) is to be engaged in outreach and mission in the world.   Jesus shares an awesome prayer in John, chapter 17.   In it he prays for us in the world.   His intimate and instructive prayer includes these words:  "Father......I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one......"   Our culture is often characterized by terms such as  individualism and isolationism.   Ironically, we have all kinds of high-tech communication devices and yet we can feel so disconnected and alone.  It is very difficult to make God known with a posture of isolationism.    The incarnation of God in Jesus Christ is in stark contrast to a lifestyle and an attitude of isolation.    As followers of Christ, we are insulated (in Jesus Christ) but never islolated from the people and the needs of this world.

While, as Jesus' followers, we are not of the world, we are definitely in the world - placed here to know God and his presence and power in this world and placed here to make God known.     How are you doing in your journey to know God?   How are you doing in making God known to others?