Abba, 

Time and time again, the reality of your nearness to us amazes me.  It does so precisely because of our sheer unworthiness of it.   We are a despicable people.  I am a despicable person.  And yet you come and make your dwelling among us.  Wonder of wonders!  How do you even stand being near to us?

“…I saw a Lamb, as though it had been slain…” (Rev 5:6)

Jesus

“…the Word become flesh and dwelt (tented, pitched his tent) among us…” (John 1:14)

Jesus

“…let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.” (Exodus 25:8)

God

I am a broken cistern. 

A dirtied and sullied vessel.

I am a worthless worm

Mired in dirt and filth

You, Abba, are the very essence of purity

Light, life, holiness.

The contrast could not be greater

The distinction more vast and wide

There is a reason 

You are high and exalted

Your excellencies 

Truly transcend anything known to us

It is not mere hyperbole

Or Cliché 

It is not simple platitudes 

To state the nature of Your greatness

The reality is objective 

Clear and real

You are totally other

No comparison

Better

Purer

Why then?

Our minds cannot fathom

Why?

Our reasoning cannot reconcile

Why would you condescend 

Stepping INTO your created thing

You came down from your lofty throne

To dwell in our midst

Why?

How can you?

The exalted God

Making His home with us

The transcendent one

Dwelling with and In us

The wonder of it

Takes our breath

Leaving us in the silence 

Of awe and wonder 

It is not for our worth

That you come

For there is no worth 

To be had

The worth is Yours 

Alone

Abba,

I never want to lose the wonder

Of your coming near

I never want to take for granted

The wonder of you dwelling with us

I desire the wonder

To always be on your worth

I desire the joy

To be on your beauty

I desire the affection 

To be gripping Your purity

Never to do I want to assume

That somehow I am entitled to your attention

Never do I want to think

You are obligated to me

Rather, I want to revel

In my complete unworthiness

And your infinite grace

To look beyond

And come anyway

To dwell with me

To dwell with us

Wonder of wonders, Abba! 

You make your home with us!

Your created thing!

Whose only worth

Is in what you prescribe to us

Worthy are you, O Lord!

Worthy are you!