is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Let us be the brothers and sisters and parents of Jesus. Let us do the will of his Father so that we can share this relationship with him. When we do the will of his Father we open ourselves to the very life of the Father which also the life of Jesus himself. It is no superficial resemblance that makes us family. It is his Spirit within us that both empowers us to do his will and makes us sons and daughters who can cry out "Abba!" to our heavenly Father (cf. Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:6). It is because of this Spirit that Jesus tells us that the Father is "my Father and your Father" (cf. Joh. 20:17). It is because of this Spirit making us holy that Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters (cf. Heb. 2:11). Mary is the perfect embodiment of this. She alone among our entire race is entirely open to the Father's well. Only she can say, "May it be done unto me according to your word" (cf. Luk. 1:38) without reserve. The Spirit overshadows her and fills her with the life of God in the most profoundly perfect way.
The promised land is not merely a place. When we partake of the divine nature (cf. 2 Pet. 1:4), when we are filled with the fullness of God (cf. Eph. 3:19), we dwell in the promised land even now. The promised land is the very love of God. It is so real that we can live there. "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love" (cf. Joh. 15:10). If we aren't quite there yet we shouldn't beat ourselves up. The LORD is still working to bring us there. If we are still in some ways slaves in Egypt the LORD wants to set us free. It is often spectacular.
Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day
from the power of the Egyptians.
When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore
and beheld the great power that the LORD
Here's the thing. To escape the Egyptians we need to be willing to follow the children of Israel who "marched on dry land through the midst of the sea, with the water like a wall to their right and to their left." We're used to hearing this but think about it. Wouldn't we be afraid that the waters might rush back upon us at any moment? Do we trust God enough to let him use his power to deliver us? If we try to do it the human way the Egyptians always catch up and overtake us. God has the power to deliver us. He can send our sins running in retreat "because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians."
Let's ask the LORD to fight for us today and watch as he covers himself in glory. Let him lead us through the waters into the promised land.
And you brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place where you made your seat, O LORD,
the sanctuary, O LORD, which your hands established.
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