Every relationship requires commitment and communication. Whether a friendship, a romantic relationship, a work relationship or a kinship. Each of these require that you be present and that you interact. It can be as basic as showing up to work and informing the employer if you cannot be present at work. This is a respectful and healthy working relationship.
If you had an appointment for work, would you be on time? What about a meetup with a good friend? Would that person merit your best effort?
What about a meeting with your child’s teacher ? What about a date with your spouse? Would you be on time? What if you had a meeting with someone you do not like very much? Would you be on time? Have you ever taken into account how your relationship with a person influences how you respond to them?
Would you say that you have a relationship with Jesus ?
Are you on time for Jesus? Do you get to church on time or are you late most of the time? Do you promise to talk (pray) every night but in reality fall asleep before even starting to pray? Or do you sometimes forget altogether caught up with other things?
How about we take these questions and rephrase them to now ponder on how you would appear or present yourself. For the office, would you be dressed as an executive, classy and professional? For the spouse would you be laid back or dressed to impress? And for the best friend?
How we appear speaks a lot about the condition and the status of the relationship we are in. If it’s a new budding romance, one might enter the meeting place a bit nervous or frazzled. If however one is meeting a beloved relative that you’ve not seen in years;then the entrance is one of excitement and longing. However if the meeting is with the school professor whose monotone voice annoys you and without fail ushers you into a state of boredom and disinterest… you may enter half-heartedly or enter with a mind already filled with your own preoccupations and concerns. Finally, what if you had to meet an individual who hurt you or you feel has betrayed or abused you; then the entrance is one that is dreaded and even skipped or avoided altogether.
All of these analogies are to help us think about our relationship with God. He is our creator and loving father (Psalm 68:5-6 / 2 Corinthians 6:16-18). How do you approach Him?
Then, Jesus says that He has called us friends (John 15:15).
Yet, He is also the superhero that saves from sin and made a way for your escape from Satan and his cohorts wanting to keep us captive (John 10:10 / 1John 3:8)).
Do we at times approach the throne of grace legalistically in a very formal fashion with fancy wording or recited sayings in front of the Father who instead is so pleased to see His child come in His presence.
Have you ever noticed yourself reading your Bible like a chore to be checked off a list, instead of reading it like letters from a lover to His beloved or letters from a Father to their child, or even as words of encouragement and edification from a good friend?
Let’s take time to think about our relationship with Jesus. Do you have one? Do you want one? Or are you that distant friend that had one encounter and ever since tells everyone that you’re buddies but you’ve not spoken or communicated in months? The most important thing to consider is that Jesus longs for your presence and fellowship more than I can even express with words. We often get caught up or focused more on how much we want to spend time with the Lord; not realizing that the King of the universe looks forward to time with you.
“The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” Psalm 14:2
