Have you ever had a relationship with someone that you wanted to
take to a deeper level, but they just didn’t want to go there? You
are falling for them but they are not falling for you. They are
polite and kind, but distant.
Have you ever had a relationship with someone that you wanted to take to a deeper level, but they just didn’t want to go there? You are falling for them but they are not falling for you. They are polite and kind, but distant.
It may be adult children. You’ve made some mistakes in the past and now you are trying to connect. Or perhaps it’s your parents. You really would love to have a father-son or mother-daughter relationship like you see in other friends with their cool parents, but it’s awkward instead.
Maybe you and your spouse used to be best friends who loved hanging out together. You loved the same music and places, but over time, something happened.
Isn’t it frustrating? Because there is nothing you can do to force someone into a deeper relationship. This may be new, but the Bible presents God as someone who desires to have an intimate relationship with His creation.
He’s seen in Scripture as a father who desires a relationship with a son going his own way. He’s seen as a Shepherd who loves the sheep who are doing their own thing – and it breaks His heart. We see him in the Garden of Eden, creator God walking through the garden, calling, longing for a broken relationship to be restored.
Even the religious who believe in God can keep Him at arms length Jesus writes to one of His churches, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock …” (Revelation 3:20). “Jesus, Why are you knocking? Just go in. These are your people. You could blow the walls down if you wanted.”
But Jesus just knocks. And we are introduced to a concept throughout the Scriptures – that God with all His might and power can’t do one thing – and it’s the one thing that He desires most. “I can make you obey me, I can make you fear me, but I cannot make you love me. I can’t force an intimate relationship.”
Instead, many opt for religion. Religion is a response to God that allows us to treat God respectfully, but not intimately. God becomes a formula: Go to church, read the Bible, say prayers.
Eventually, religion leads to self-centeredness: “How do I find the right combination, (what bone do I need to throw Him once-in-awhile) so that I can get him to do my bidding?” Religion leads to being judgmental and God’s become a stranger.
If we are to develop intimacy with someone, we first need time – unrushed, unstructured time. Secondly, transparency. God doesn’t want formula prayers – He wants honesty. Thirdly, the most challenging, is mutual submission – focusing on the best interests of the other.
The idea of submitting to God scares many people. But God has already made the first move. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, before your first sin or first religious deed, He had to step down from heaven and his glory and submit to our death (Philippians 2:3-8). In submission to the Father, Jesus put our interests first.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me.”
So, what are you afraid of? Jesus is knocking. He’s waiting for you to make the next move. He doesn’t want religion or ritual, God wants intimacy with you. And when you open up your life to Jesus Christ, you will become the most unreligious, freed up person on the planet.
Morgan Hill Bible Church is located at 15750 Vineyard Blvd., Suite 110, Morgan Hill. For information, call (408) 778-5083. Contact Dr. Dave Whitaker at da***@*****le.org.
