To have a real relationship with the Savior of the world, what does that even look like?
Some very impressive scholars have said that the way you view your earthly father is the way you will view your heavenly father. Some say that God is a great lover of their soul. Some say that He is an all knowing master. Still some say that He is like a big brother, always looking out for you.
How do you view God? The answer to this question is critical to the way your walk with Him will go. It can help you or hurt you. If you believe that God is a giant mean kid in the sky with a magnifying glass trying to make sure you are always doing everything right, then you have missed the entire love story of the bible. Instead of someone who loves us, God becomes someone who is only concerned with what we do, or don’t do. If we follow the rules, or break them, or even know the rules.
But that is not the God that we serve. If it is, then you and I are not serving the same Lord. Our view of the creator will also influence how we treat His creation. If you think He is a bully, how much harder is it to embrace and love his people. Or His sunsets. Or His rainstorms. One of the most interesting parts of the Gospel message is when Jesus asks his disciples who they think he is.
Mark 8:27-30 “27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.”
This passage is also in Matthew. Jesus wants to know how people view Him. How you view Him. But Jesus is all knowing, so why does He ask? What is most intriguing is how many different ideas there are of who Jesus is. People weren’t sure. Just like us, they thought they knew but were still wondering. The way that you view God will also affect the way that you worship Him.
If you claim God as someone who just created the world and then left it to fend for itself, there is almost no worship required. It is meaningless because He is not present, in this thought.
But what if God is who He says He is? What if He is your friend, your lover, your bridegroom? What if He created the world so that you could share in His joy? Would that change anything? If we truly recognized God for what He is, rather than for what we think He should be, how much greater could life be.
There is power in knowing who God really is. What is faith, if not a belief in Jesus, and believing He is who He says He is. With that kind of faith, mountains move. But it starts with a relationship. See where God is leading you. If you can think of God in one word, what would it be? The answer to that shows how you view God. The Spirit is moving and willing to take you into a deeper and more potent relationship with Him. Embrace His love today and see what can happen. You might be surprised at the glory revealed to you.
way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?” 28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.”
This passage is also in Matthew. Jesus wants to know how people view Him. How you view Him. But Jesus is all knowing, so why does He ask? What is most intriguing is how many different ideas there are of who Jesus is. People weren’t sure. Just like us, they thought they knew but were still wondering. The way that you view God will also affect the way that you worship Him.
If you claim God as someone who just created the world and then left it to fend for itself, there is almost no worship required. It is meaningless because He is not present, in this thought.
But what if God is who He says He is? What if He is your friend, your lover, your bridegroom? What if He created the world so that you could share in His joy? Would that change anything? If we truly recognized God for what He is, rather than for what we think He should be, how much greater could life be.
There is power in knowing who God really is. What is faith, if not a belief in Jesus, and believing He is who He says He is. With that kind of faith, mountains move. But it starts with a relationship. See where God is leading you. If you can think of God in one word, what would it be? The answer to that shows how you view God. The Spirit is moving and willing to take you into a deeper and more potent relationship with Him. Embrace His love today and see what can happen. You might be surprised at the glory revealed to you.
Tara Duffy
Lakeland, Florida
A Realationship With God