What’s ‘personal’???

Prior to, at the point of acceptance, and continuing - ‘they’ are always talking about a personal relationship with the Lord. I really love that concept … BUT no one ever says what ‘personal’ means: what it looks like, how it feels, what the expectations are, HOW you do this, etc. Do you believe a relationship is really a real thing or that it's church-ese? It can become quite frustrating because if you don’t know what it is, how will you ever know if you’ve attained it?!!! OK... enuf drama. But - the point, the questions are still valid. Do YOU know what your personal relationship with the Lord is? Is it static? Is it continuing to grow? 

WHY do you think you have or don't have a relationship? And if you point to being worthy - forget that designation because none of us are. Worthiness isn't the point. I believe the Father has always wanted a relationship with His creation. 

   "Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.” So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.” So God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to all the animals on the earth and to every bird of the air and to everything that moves on the ground—to everything in which there is the breath of life—I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so [because He commanded it]. God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good and He validated it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day." [Genesis 1: 26-31]

When you read further you'll read that God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day (Genesis 3). If all this doesn't speak of the Father's desire to be in relationship with His creation... what will? 

If you return to the argument that man isn't worthy... read 2 Corinthians 5

   "17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. 18 But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God]. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. 21 He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness]."

Read verse 21 again: He made Christ who knew no sin to [judicially] be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God [that is, we would be made acceptable to Him and placed in a right relationship with Him by His gracious lovingkindness].

When our Lord pronounced 'It is Finished' - our separation from God was bridged and now we have the opportunity [because it is always our decision] to accept this gift of reconciliation that Jesus provides. This provides the foundation for developing your personal definition of relationship with the Lord and talking with Him about it - it never is one-sided. Relationship is also never static... you're in for a wonderful adventure!

Happy… Pleased?

Let me ask you a question… are you ‘happy’ (your definition), pleased with you and who you are becoming? Is your becoming constantly (again, your definition) growing in understanding?

   "Do not turn away from her (Wisdom) and she will guard and protect you;

Love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]! And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation]. [Proverbs 4:6-8]

 

When you look at who you were 6 months ago in comparison to now, do you see a refining? Is this the you, you want to be? Are you taking time to:

   "Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth. But avoid all irreverent babble and godless chatter [with its profane, empty words], for it will lead to further ungodliness,..."

[2 Timothy: 2:15-16]

The context is you as a Christian. I’m not judging you but you should judge you. Judging isn't a negative, actually it's the best friend to 'study' because it focuses on discovering what you know which leads to discovering what you need to know. How many times does it say in scripture - examine. Scripture doesn’t say that as an accusation, it is reminding us that we live in a fallen world and sin resides at our doorstep just waiting to trip us up.

   "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.]   (1 Peter 5:6-9)

Did you notice how many times the word 'all' was used? I believe it's deliberate because we need to see the vastness of the Lord's 'all' - it's no little thing. These verses start with telling us what we need to do, then why, then what we receive when we do. It then points to our adversary and what he tries to do, then to what we can do and what is established when we do, and ends these verses with the commonality we who unite under the banner of Jesus have.

I started this little discussion with the title: Happy... Pleased? So ... are you? Minimally you should feel that you are not walking alone. We may get lonely occasionally but we are never alone. That fact alone should bring a sense of belonging. And the attribute of belonging goes a long way in describing 'happy' and 'pleased'.  

The Accuser

 As I was praying this morning and being quite irritated that the devil is still up to his tricks of saying to the Father, who knows ALL things, the things we do each day that are incriminating against us. Can you hear the glee in the devil's voice as he reiterates them? Stop for just a moment and begin to realize that this is precisely what the devil does to the Father, the Triune God... against Him to us! Isn't the doubt that springs uninvited the devil's voice accusing God to us? Of course it is! Had I realized this?... of course I didn't. For a smart person I don't always put 2 and 2 together to reach 4. Silly really.

Since the devil is not creative, all he can do is repeat what he sees, hears from us. And we are great at providing ways we go about spreading 'fake news', deceit, lies, gossip, etc. Plus, some of us have a master's degree in shooting ourselves in the foot! For just a moment look at how the devil uses his wiles. When he comes against us with doubt... what are we doubting? Is it a 'thing' or is it a person? or is it an interpretation of scripture? Is it another person? Or is it a combination of all of the above? Yep - all, and some I haven't indicated.

I've also noticed that he uses our former selves against us... especially when it comes to the Word that tells us:

   "He has not dealt with us according to our sins [as we deserve], Nor rewarded us [with punishment] according to our wickedness.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

Just as a father loves his children, So the Lord loves those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence]." [Psalm 103: 10-13]

We may longingly look at these verses, but do we accept them as the truth they are or do we listen to the voice that tells us... we really have committed the unpardonable sin... or do you think God cares so much for you that He would allow the travesty you committed to go unpunished... or do you really believe He has forgiven you - don't forget His words when He said that He was a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). And those are only some of the arguments the devil will use. Do you actually accept what the devil is saying? He does know scripture and how to use it against us or against the Lord.

I find myself totally irritated with myself when I discover I have bought into one of the devil's lies. Really, I should be more mature. I should do what scripture teaches:

   " Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source]; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world." [1 John 4:1-3] 

This gives us the what [test] and the answer. How much more do we need to defeat the accuser not only of ourselves but of the Lord?! And if you are accusing the accuser... to whom? God already knows. Why not defeat the devil the same way Jesus did - It Is Written! - and tell him NO! We really can resist the devil and not become ensnared with his attempts to defeat us, accuse us, or accuse the Lord. 

Closed?

 Closed... perhaps a definition wouldn’t go amiss. In this context (and yes, I know I haven’t provided a context - I will) - this is more of a: if you aren’t defining words, especially big words, how I learned and understood them and it's contrary to what you are saying -  then you’re wrong! Context: scripture and how we are and do Christianity. May I gently suggest that if your ‘teacher’ was a human then there’s every possibility they, you could be wrong... or if there's a 'not completely right' category, then that designation. Also… I really think scripture can easily defend itself - typically by providing other scriptures that confirm it.

A couple of things I've learned: never, as in ever, assume your definition is a one and done - there could be layers to understanding. Don't ever be arrogant about what you know (or think you know). Practice the attitude of an attentive student. Contemplate what you receive if you are 'closed' - when you don't allow questions or challenges or opportunities to expand your understandings. 

Obviously, there are aspects that should be a 'close' such as the fact that Jesus was fully human and fully God. 

   "Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source]; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world." [1 John 4:1-3]

That there aren't many paths to God. He has made it abundant clear that there's only one, [1] way to God and that is through His Son, Jesus. That the Bible is a love story from God to His creation, His people. That the Bible has everything that speaks to His creation (us) living, working, who we are, how we should go about being us, etc. That the Holy Spirit is the one who determines and gives us our gifting. I could on in this vein, but I think the context makes it especially blatant. There are certain obvious issues that are settled, that are closed. But closed doesn't mean you can't ask questions. When our motivation is understanding, I don't believe this angers God. 

I ask you what you believe is 'closed'. It's important to know the foundation for what we believe, why we believe, and what we do about our belief. Closed can mean a way of sharing eternal truths are are immutable because that identifies our foundation. Closed is only an unfortunate choice when the subject is one that doesn't have universal definition based in scripture. I believe that Closed mean a security of finality.