"God is in the Details"

People often say about the agreements we make in this world that "the devil is in the details." Maybe we should pay more attention to the details of the contracts we enter into on a daily basis. When is the last time you read all of the details of the new "Apple (or other software) agreement that has recently been changed. Many of us would most likely stay off the internet if we had to read every detail of the agreement to which we are entering.

When we are speaking of living out our faith we can or should say "God is in the Details." By this I mean that our faith should be closed related to how we live, considered at every point when we are making a moral decision, or choice, in life. Our faith relationship to God should be that which leads to making our personal moral decisions.

In my life I have met some very good humanistic persons, for whom God is not even thought of in making a moral decision. In fact some of these humanists may not even believe in God (atheist) or may take the position that we cannot know God for sure (agnostic), yet alone consider God in making an individual decision. Even though I believe all human beings are flawed and sinful, I think humanists, though driven by relationship to other human beings, may make highly moral choices.

But what about making decisions that do not have some kind of "self-interest," even in the sense of helping others with some hope of return? This is where I believe only a relationship to a loving God can bring about making moral decisions on a consistent basis.

At least for me I will not do what is right because it is the right thing to do (for its own sake). The catalogues of vices and virtues which were prevalent in ancient times do not necessarily lead me to make highly ethical choices. But when I think about the larger picture, what God has first done for me, then I will not want to disappoint God. So God becomes involved in my daily life, as I realize God cares for me every day and God cares about the choices I make on a daily basis.

I might go far as to say that for me all of Christian ethics is relational-- it is done out of a relationship to God and to the Christian community. Because my relationship to God is based on God's grace and forgiveness it will not lead me to feel outside of that relationship even when I let God down through the choices I make or the behavior that I display. Rather, I will realize that like a loving parent God wants to welcome me back and forgive me. This will lead me to want to make the right choices the next time, and through the experienced my relatonship to God will grow.

It is difficult to describe God's level of involvement in our day to day lives. But I believe that when we consider our relationship to God on a daily basis we will bring our faith into our day to day life. God will truly be in the details of our life. Isn't this a great comfort for us as we meet the challenges of everyday life?