Happy New Year! I pray the phrase doesn't sound hollow, because I know it can. What makes the new year happy, what with war, a disastrous tsunami, concern about terrorism, the economy, personal problems... ? Only one ray of hope I know--our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am so grateful that Christmas is celebrated just before New Year. It is good to focus on the Only One Who makes every year worthwhile. Jesus--He's the One Who was willing to leave His privileged status, His heavenly circumstances and come join us on this hurting planet. He's the One Who showed us what it means to walk in intimate fellowship with Father God and to learn obedience in all things. He's the One Who by His total sacrifice of obedience in death for all of us brought about the possibility of restored relationship with Father God when our rebellion broke all contact.
What can I learn from Him that will help me throughout 2005? Last year I spoke of the importance of learning to draw close to Him. This year is a furtherance of that theme. Father God's love is what Jesus came to demonstrate. His love is not like our concept of love, however. To express His love He paid the ultimate price. Father God so much wants a relationship with His creatures, that He will do anything to get rid of the obstacles to that relationship.
Even after being a follower of Christ for 30 years, I still have obstacles within me (some known to me, and some I don't know about yet) that keep me from the intimacy I desire with God and He desires with me. These obstacles come from living in a world distorted by sin all these years, and from within myself because I was born imperfect into an imperfect world. When I received Jesus' sacrifice on my behalf, I entered into a new realm where I began a restored relationship with my Creator. However, the key word here is began. Ever since then, God has been on a search-and-destroy mission. His love desires to destroy all hidden attitudes, desires that still try to keep me, His beloved, from full relationship with Him.
How does God get at these attitudes of mine that block a fuller relationship with Him? Oftentimes the hard things, tests and trials, that come into my life smoke out the things that I expect of God (otherwise called demands). When He allows things I think He shouldn't to happen to me and others, I run head on into my attitudes that block a deeper relationship, and are these attitudes ugly! God already knew they were there, but I didn't. The difficulties of life expose them, and then I have a choice. I can give them to Father God, asking Him to help me change (because I sure don't know how) or choose to keep them.
The issue God is still working on with me is His Sovereignty (and perhaps that's not the issue with everyone--but maybe it's another attitude instead). Mine goes like this: God can do anything, yet He didn't prevent/isn't fixing whatever it is. Through His past dealings with me I know I have that attitude, and have chosen not to keep it. All that I go through is now designed to bring me to the point where I give the attitude to Father God once and for all, asking for and expecting transformation within as I surrender and agree with Him about the attitude.
The point here is that if I don't give Him the attitude, I am not allowing Him access to my heart in a very important area, and my relationship with Him can grow no further. He respects my choices, but His love continues to try to grow me deeper. His love is wonderful, but it is also dangerous. He will allow me into extreme situations to deal with me at times, and the danger is that I might harden my heart and start turning back into anger and bitterness.
My/our question this year is: How far will we let our God take us in removing obstacles that hinder relationship with Him? Is His love and life worth giving up everything that I prize, just as His love required Him to give everything for me? My answer is yes!! even though it hurts, and I can't even fulfill that decision without His grace and help. What's yours?
Love in Jesus, Barb