"I Am Bethel"

In Genesis 28, Jacob sees heaven and earth come together in his vision, and he calls it Bethel. "The House of God." Angels are ascending and descending.

In John 1:50, Jesus tells Nathanael that if sticks with Him, he will see great things. He will "see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." In other words, Jesus is saying, "I am Bethel." "I am the House of God." Forever.

Jesus is where heaven and earth come together. That's exactly where I want to be. Because that is where we really can bring some authority and healing into the world. When we bring heaven to earth and earth to heaven. That connection is THE connection.

That is why deep prayer is needed. Courageous prayer. Lonely prayer. Prayer, that like Gethsemane, leaves behind even our inner circle and goes "a little farther." Prayer that uncovers who we really are and lays it bare before God. Honest prayer that lifts the blanket off our self-deception and rips open our hearts to God.

That brings new meaning to the last verse of Psalm 23. "And I will dwell in the house of God forever." In Bethel. In the place where heaven and earth meet. In Christ.