We’ve all seen shrink wrapping. The wrap is made to conform to an object by creating a vacuum between it and the object. Sometimes the result is near perfect, other times there are wrinkles, but either way the wrap adheres to the object wrapped, giving the wrap a shape, purpose, and foundation it would otherwise lack.
God call us to be shrink wrapped to Him. Philippians 2:5-7 tells us that we should follow Jesus’ example; He “emptied himself” by completely conforming to the Father’s will (New Jerusalem Bible). There was a perfect vacuum between Jesus and the Father becuase Jesus did nothing apart from the Father. See John 5:19, 30, 8:28-29, 10:30. Indeed, Jesus was so closely conformed to the Father that He could truthfully say that we see the Father when we see Him. John 14:8-10.
Following that instruction is difficult but essential. Nature abhors a vacuum and human nature abhors giving up “rights” to conform to God’s general precepts and specific plans. And unlike Jesus, we will not be able to perfectly conform to those precepts and plans. But we will come closer to God if we ask for His help and that is always better than the alternative—being a thin membrane attached to nothing of consequence.
(Images about conforming/yielding to God were posted September 12a, 18a, 18b, 18d, and 23; October 3 and 3a, November 6; and 21, December 8, 12, and 15, 2004 and January 10d, February 18, May 11, June 18 and 27; August 21 and 27; and October 3, 2005.)
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