Relationships are hugely important to us. Books, movies, songs, and a lot of emotions and brain power have been dedicated to "love." We are mysteriously drawn to wanting to know and be known intimately by another, and it is not just a subtle drawing it is a rip you right out of your shoes kind of drawing.
There is a saying that goes "All of life illustrates Biblical doctrine." It's the idea that God has created reality in such a way that it shows us truth about himself and creation. I believe that this is no where more true than in our romantic relationships. We can learn so much about God through our love of another person.
There are three aspect of relationships that teach us about our relationship with God and his with us; intensity/intimacy, friendship, and faithfulness. Romance is about these three things, relationship with God is about these three things. God uses romantic language when he is talking about his relationship with us, many times very intense language.
Where does your relationship with God stand in terms of intensity/intimacy? Friendship? Faithfulness? Put it on a scale from 1 to 10. If you are like me it leaves much to be desired. His side looks much better than mine. What do you think it would look like to have your ratings closer to a ten? There are things that we can do to develop this relationship but I think it starts not with doing anything in particular, I think it starts with being loved. How are you at letting God love you, right where you are, just as you are, with all your shortcomings and sin? Present yourself before him, don't change anything, go to his feet, crawl in his lap, get loved. You may find yourself higher on those three scales.
Learning to Live Loved,
Deon
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
The Opportunity of Relationships
It has been said that all of life illustrates Bible doctrine. I think that is nowhere more true than in our relationships. How is our marriage like our relationship with God? How does romance reflect the deepest desire of our soul? How do our family relationships give us a glimpse into the heart of God? How do our relationships with friends and enemies shape us and lead toward restoration or destruction?
We look at our relationships to understand more of God and we look at God's Word to understand more of relationships. It is through interactions with others that our best, and worst, come out. We have the opportunity to draw closer to God and each other as we follow his lead into some of the hardest and messiest situations of life.
It is my prayer for myself and you that we take these difficult situations and we search out what it means to love. I will leave you with this quote from C.S. Lewis:
"All natural affections [relationships]. . . can become rivals to spiritual love: but they can also be preparatory imitations of it, training(so to speak) of the spiritual muscles which Grace may later put into a higher service; as women nurse dolls in childhood and later nurse children."
May our relationships be preparatory imitations of our desire to know and be known by Christ.
Learning to Live Loved,
Deon
We look at our relationships to understand more of God and we look at God's Word to understand more of relationships. It is through interactions with others that our best, and worst, come out. We have the opportunity to draw closer to God and each other as we follow his lead into some of the hardest and messiest situations of life.
It is my prayer for myself and you that we take these difficult situations and we search out what it means to love. I will leave you with this quote from C.S. Lewis:
"All natural affections [relationships]. . . can become rivals to spiritual love: but they can also be preparatory imitations of it, training(so to speak) of the spiritual muscles which Grace may later put into a higher service; as women nurse dolls in childhood and later nurse children."
May our relationships be preparatory imitations of our desire to know and be known by Christ.
Learning to Live Loved,
Deon
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