Relationship part 3
There's no greater bond than that of a Father and His Son. There's a song lyric that says, "Daddy's don't just love their children every now and then. It's a love without end. Amen." And that's what Jesus came to show us. That's the revelation of Jesus. A Father loving His Son. And that's why it's so vitally important that we identify ourselves AS Jesus. Jesus is God in the flesh. Love in a body. God in OUR flesh. Love in OUR body. As He is, so are we in this world. He lives in us and we live in Him. There is no difference, and no separation. That's why when Jesus said, "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6), He didn't say, "No man comes to GOD but by me." Religion had pretty well figured out the way to God. Obey the rules. Keep the Law of Moses. Or, in practical terms, make others look worse so you look better by comparison. But God never wanted us to be boxed in by religion. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Right? He didn't want religion, He wanted relationship. And relationship is all about connection and timing. So at the appointed time He made the connection. He gave His only begotten Son so that we could be conformed into the image of His beloved Son! See, we were already CREATED in His image. But we didn't know what that image was. So we wandered around in the dark trying to make ourselves into what we thought it should look like. That's why so many relgions preach their culture. It's what seems to fit. But it's never really comfortable. Because it's always just out of reach. You try to grab the carrot, and the stick moves. There's always one thing you lack. And if that goes on long enough, you get discouraged and give up. Because even though it SHOULD be, religion is not based on love. Religion is based on performance. Jumping through hoops. Relationship, on the other hand, can ONLY be based on love. That connection. But that's where it can get tricky. Because to REALLY have a connection with people you have to go past the surface. Paul wrote, "...I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22). Meeting people where they're at. Giving what you've got instead of trying to get something. Being open and vulnerable. That's the only way--the ONLY WAY--to have real relationships. And that can be scary. Because what if you open yourself up and get burned? What if you show someone something and they laugh at it? Or reject it? Terrifying. It's seems like it's so much safer to build walls and hide behind them. Conform. Fit in. Don't give anybody anything to condemn. But guess what: That's not really living. Certainly that's not abundant life. That's "acquaintances" as best. Surface stuff. Even though the deep is calling out to the deep. Even though we long for something real. And that's why perfect love casts out fear. Because if you're too afraid to connect with someone, too afraid to be vulnerable, you'll never have that relationship. And that's why Jesus brought us to the FATHER. To His unconditional, unstoppable love. When you are filled to overflowing with that love... it comes out naturally. You don't even think about it. You just DO it, because you ARE it. You love, because you are loved, and because you are LOVE!