PRAY IT! Street Hero - John 1:1-18

The Word became flesh and blood,
    and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
    the one-of-a-kind glory,
    like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
    true from start to finish.  (John 1:14, MSG)

I live in an apartment.  Truthfully, I don’t really feel like I have neighbors as sung by Mr. Rogers.  Apartment life is not necessarily as inviting as it is depicted on Friends.  I have lived here for 4 years and have yet to actually see and/or meet everyone in my building, much less have a neighbor just let himself in to eat all the leftover lasagna in my fridge.  Despite not regularly seeing, well, anyone… I can tell you this:  someone new recently moved into my building.  I have not seen him.  But I have heard him.  Heard him?  Yes.  I have heard him singing in the hallway coming to and from his apartment.  (It’s an apartment… the walls are thin).  While I have heard others coming and going, loud music playing, someone’s late night and very lengthy conversation on his phone, or even someone practicing opera (no joke), I have not yet heard someone singing in the hall. 

There’s someone new in my neighborhood and he sounds different. 

The same can be said of Jesus.  John paints a beautiful picture of Jesus in this John 1:1-18 passage of Scripture.  The Message version states that becoming flesh and blood, Jesus “moved into the neighborhood”.  Not only did those surrounded by Jesus get to hear him, they got to see him and experience him and be forever changed and blessed by him.  And, as we follow along and really get to know Jesus, the Jesus who willingly and obediently moved in and settled down (for our benefit), who sounded and acted different (for our benefit), who from verse 16 we know bestowed upon each of us “grace upon grace” (for our benefit), we cannot help but be transformed as God intends.

So, how can we pray in light of this amazing passage – this blessing – in light of this Jesus, who moved into the neighborhood and saved us all, and who continues to want to move into the neighborhood of our hearts and lives and transform us?

Prayer involves both being heard and listening.  Not only is God listening to you when you pray, he is also wanting you to listen when he speaks.

“But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.”  Psalm 66:19

“Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!”  Psalm 81:13

Sometimes it is easier to only talk and not listen… we keep on talking and keep on asking.  Maybe, on some level, we are afraid to hear from God.  What if we do not like what he has to say?  Or maybe we are afraid that if we shut up long enough to give God the opportunity to speak, there might just be silence on the other end.  What then?  Or, sometimes we can veer the opposite direction and just sit quietly, but not convey our true feelings in conversation with God. 

Just as I can discern my new neighbor by listening, so can we discern the voice of God as we listen.  Jesus donned flesh, he moved into the neighborhood, and he settled in deeply enough to rub elbows with those he came into contact with.  Sometimes change is intimidating and scary.  But Jesus, who gave us grace upon grace – unmerited favor – wants to truly be our neighbor and help us be neighbors with others.

Is Jesus truly your neighbor?  More importantly – is he your savior?  Spend some time in prayer both talking and listening to him now.  Accept him.  Invite him.  Thank him.  Share with him what both excites you and scares you.  Spend some time in quiet, listening to him.  Ask him to help you listen.  Ask him to help you be patient if he speaks differently than what you'd expect.  As you pray, consider picking one or two words or phrases that stuck out to you from this passage (ie:  grace upon grace or neighbor) and spend some time quietly reflecting upon their meaning and power.

Pastor Celia