How many relationships are you currently in that fully satisfy your specific needs?
There are many possible answers for each one who reads that question.
For example, if I had asked how many relationships you are involved in, that would have simply involved making a number count. But, that wasn’t the entire question, was it?
It would probably be pretty simple for each of us to count all our relationships and come up with a number.
When we consider, however, how satisfying they are, we realize we must first take stock of what our expectations actually are for each individual relationship. To do that involves assessing just what are our needs.
We can’t do an honest assessment of our needs until we gain some insight into the matter of our needs and how closely do our felt needs align with perceived needs or real God-given needs.
Deep thinking!
I wonder how many of us are truly aware of God’s desire to be in personal relationship with each and every human being to whom He’s given life and breath.
Are you in a personal relationship with God, the Creator as God, your heavenly Father?
When I was growing up and first becoming aware of God and hearing about Him from the adults in my life, I don’t recall the exact words used by each one who talked about God, but I do remember the vivid images that were being formed in my impressionable child’s mind about Him.
“When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (NIV¹)
All of my earlier impressions about God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit have had to be overhauled in a big way! Not all of them were discarded, but certainly all of them have had to be investigated, validated, and clarified by truth.
It is impossible for me to have a deep, close, and satisfying relationship with the God of creation as my heavenly Father until I have an understanding of Him and His character, based on the truth of His own Word.
Please note that I did not say a full understanding. God is incomprehensible to us humans. But, He is knowable, for He has gone to great lengths to ensure that all who desire to know Him in truth may come to know Him and to love Him.
This knowing and understanding comes over the course of our entire lives. Life takes time.
Dr. Charles Stanley said, “…We can better understand God’s heart and character by seeking Him and learning day by day from His Word. If we genuinely desire to walk in His ways, we must first genuinely know Him. We come to know our friends better by sharing more experiences together. Similarly, we will also understand God better the longer we walk with Him and meditate on what He has revealed about Himself in the Bible. … ask Him to help you know Him better.” ²
It is imperative that all of us have our beliefs shaped by the truth of God’s word and not carelessly and vaguely acquired impressions from the culture around us. It is all too easy for our personal expectations to far exceed the realities; and when they do, there are definitely troubled relationships in our future.
When we know each other in truth we will have close, personal, and satisfying relationships with each other. No small feat!
In fact, it would be impossible apart from God, Who is the Author of life, love, and Truth. It is He who makes relationship possible. He, who formed humans with a deep desire in our hearts to be known and understood, for the Bible tells us that He placed eternity in our hearts.
In order to better understand ourselves and our human relationships, let us study relationship with God Himself.
Learning as we go…
And, having never passed this way before, we look to Jesus, Whom God sent to show us the way:
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you really know Me, you will know My Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.” (John 14:6-7 NIV¹.)
To enter into relationship with Almighty God, it will be in His way --- Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. God is a holy God and sin cannot approach holy God until the sin has been appropriately dealt with first. See 1 John 2:1-2 (NIV¹): “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”
With our eyes on God the Father, whose loving eye is upon us, and Jesus Christ, His Son and our Savior, we seek His Face daily in His Word, His living and active word: “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV¹.)
The Word of God is absolutely vital as the world moves into the coming age. The Word of God is as relevant today, in this modern world of 2012, as it was when first written and it is the text book of life written by Life’s Author, God Himself.
We would all do well to pay attention to it! Treat it as the Treasure Book that it is and explore it to live it. A million years would not be long enough to exhaust the wonders of the Word of God. It is a great mystery, and, the Lord God Himself desires that we know and understand a great deal of its mystery. See 1 Corinthians 2:7-11 (NIV¹).
Deuteronomy 29:29 (NIV): “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”
Know that God is waiting for you to discover Him. He tells us in His Word where all things are hidden: in Christ Jesus. See 1 Corinthians 1:30(NIV).
Deep thinking! But, we may have the mind of Christ! (1 Corinthians 1:16b NIV¹.)
{¹The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™.}
{²See In Touch Ministries magazine; March 27, 2012; page 49.}
No comments:
Post a Comment