At-one-ment

Hast thou not seen how thy heart’s longings have been

Granted in what he ordaineth? Joachim Neander

 

Read Romans 3:21—26

If there is one thing that drives me to prayer, if I have a deep heart-longing that would make this time something more vital and more than a mere exercise, it is surely an authentic longing I have for atonement. That is a word I may not use much in conversation. But I, at my heart, long for at-one-ment. At-one-ment with God and with the very ground of my whole being. I am made for communion. And I am given Jesus. I am given his name to carry my prayer before the Father. He is put forward by God as sacrifice for atonement. It is he who is God’s self-giving to me. And it is he in whom I come to God. He is all I have to offer. Here God and humanity meet, and here God and I meet.

 

This longing I have for you, Lord, to be at one with you, it is a longing to be at one with myself, too. It is a longing to be at one with those I know, among whom I live my days. It is a longing to find some at-one-ment with the very environment around me. And I see it is a longing that connects with a longing deep in the heart of God. You yourself have longed from all eternity to be at one with me. You meet me in sacrifice, in self-offering. You meet me at your own cost. And I love you so feebly, but I do love you in return for this.