I receive daily readings from Ransomed Heart Ministries and today’s reading was timely after my last post. I leave you with these thoughts for a few days and I’ll be back on Wednesday.
We have developed a summer program for SEVENS, and we are hosting our first group of participants this week. Our friend Trevor Cox is bringing a group of teens and adults from East Point in Wichita, KS. Please pray for safety, good health, and the growing/learning/serving opportunities we are providing for the group. We’ve worked hard on the lessons and all of the planning and logistics of them joining us for the week. We know we are opposed and have already felt some of the spiritual warfare that is targeting us at this time. Your prayers and encouragement are very much appreciated by our team and the Wichita group. Next week our friend Chris Robey is bringing a group from Granbury, TX. It’s going to be a busy two weeks, but my long blogging breaks are over for awhile, so keep stopping by!
The Bible uses a number of metaphors to describe our relationship to God at various stages. If you’ll notice, they ascend in a stunning way:
Potter and clay. At this level we are merely aware that our lives are shaped—even broken—by a powerful hand. There isn’t much communication, just the sovereignty of God at work.
Shepherd and sheep. At this stage we feel provided for, watched over, cared about. But beyond that, a sheep has little by way of true intimacy with the Shepherd. They are altogether different creatures.
Master and servant. Many, many believers are stuck in this stage, where they are committed to obey, but the relationship is mostly about receiving orders and instructions and carrying them out.
Father and child. This is certainly more intimate than being a servant; children get the run of the house, they get to climb on Daddy’s lap. These fortunate souls understand God’s fatherly love and care for them. They feel “at home” with God.
Friends. This stage actually opens up a deeper level of intimacy as we walk together with God, companions in a shared mission. We know what’s on his heart; he knows what’s on ours. There is a maturity and intimacy to the relationship.
Bridegroom and bride (lovers). Here, the words of the Song of Songs could also describe our spiritual intimacy, our union and oneness with God. Madame Guyon wrote, “I love God far more than the most affectionate lover among men loves his earthly attachment.”
Where would you put your relationship with God? Why did you choose that “level”? Has it always been that way?
(The Journey of Desire Journal & Guidebook , 150)
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