Tuesday, October 5, 2010

"The Goal: A Living Relationship"

It is amazing that many know the truth as revealed through Scripture. But what are we to do with that truth? It was Jesus who said that just because one calls Him Lord does not mean anything but only those who do the will of the Father (Matt. 7:21). What does that tell us? The truth of God's word is worth little if it doesn't lead us into a living relationship to Him. It is not knowledge of the mind but a real, genuine relationship that walks with Him.
There seems to be too much teaching on being forgiven as if that is all there is. I realize that's the central thrust of God's work but there is something deeper that the Lord is trying to get us to grab hold of. God is trying to make us into the life and image of His Son. That means our hearts need to change us into who He is rather than walking in our own stubborn and selfish will. Our heart is the center of our being, our workshop where all our being works from. The Lord is trying to get our heart to beat with His heart and only until we surrender our heart to His love will His work begin within us. That's what forgiveness brings us to. Forgiveness softens our hearts and allows it to be willing to listen and change. Forgiveness is not the end to itself. It is our heart the Lord is after because if He gets our heart, He gets our whole being and that's the central thrust of being forgiven! Even David understood that in Psa. 51:10-13. That speaks to us that we aren't aligned with the Lord in some legal way but in a living relationship that expresses His life in our heart to which is expressed in the character and life we live before Him.

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