Post by Gerard Mendes on May 1, 2011 21:38:32 GMT -5
When we look at the kind of relationships we have with God they fall into three groups---parent/child,master/servant and lover/beloved.Each of these three descriptions are accurate and true.However there tends to be a chronology in our experiencing these.We come into the kingdom as children saying things like abba father and daddy God.Then we grow and want to do adult things for God and become servants wanting to hear the words -- well done good and faithful servant.Then we mature into our calling and become the bride where loving and being with Him is our all consuming passion.We find christians in all three of these groups today and this is great.However problems can occur when well meaning christians think that everyone should be in the group they are in.Common teaching today tells us that we begin as babes,grow into servants but that marriage stuff is for the sweet bye and bye.While we are here we are servants.Servants tolerate babes because they arent mature like servants are.Servants dont get alone with brides because brides dont 'work'.We see this in the story of mary and martha.Martha thought that mary wasnt mature enough to know that she was suppose to be working.She got frustrated because Jesus wasnt correcting her so she confronted Jesus on the matter.His answer is now history----she IS doing the important thing.
Now the servant who wants to hear --well done as spoken in Mt 25 vs 21 isnt versed in Lk 17 vss 9&10 where Jesus says that a servant following orders doesnt get an atta boy.He is doing what is expected.Then there is Jn 15 vs 15 where Jesus says that we are no longer servants but now we are friends.A friendship relationship is based on some sort of equality rooted in love.Servants avoid any kind of raising themselves because they think it disrespectful to think they are more then servants.It was God who lowered Himself to our level so He could have an intimate relationship with us.When I was a young parent I would come home from work and the first thing I did was play with my kids.I would get down on the floor so that my son could kick me in the eye,slobber in my face and bite my nose.It would break my heart if my son was to ever have said---dad,your dad and Im a child.You stand up and be a good dad and Ill stay down here and be a good son.We do this to God when we elevate servanthood over bridehood.Both the bride and the servant serve.What differs is the motive.A servant that doesnt serve is worthless but a bride is blessed in everything she does because as a true bride she does everything for her bridegroom---even doing nothing can be a blessing if she is doing nothing while enjoying His presence.Where ever we are in this maturing process we are to do it well.If we are babes--enjoy Daddy God.If we are a servant -- serve well and enjoy His mastership.If we come to be brides---keep the fire burning.A child has love for His father.A servant has love for His master but a bride is in love WITH her Lover.Whom will an employer share his deepest secrets with---an employee or his wife?As we have seen from parts 1 and 2 being a bride is our calling and is biblical.Lets experience Him now the way He wants us to.This is His will.
Now the servant who wants to hear --well done as spoken in Mt 25 vs 21 isnt versed in Lk 17 vss 9&10 where Jesus says that a servant following orders doesnt get an atta boy.He is doing what is expected.Then there is Jn 15 vs 15 where Jesus says that we are no longer servants but now we are friends.A friendship relationship is based on some sort of equality rooted in love.Servants avoid any kind of raising themselves because they think it disrespectful to think they are more then servants.It was God who lowered Himself to our level so He could have an intimate relationship with us.When I was a young parent I would come home from work and the first thing I did was play with my kids.I would get down on the floor so that my son could kick me in the eye,slobber in my face and bite my nose.It would break my heart if my son was to ever have said---dad,your dad and Im a child.You stand up and be a good dad and Ill stay down here and be a good son.We do this to God when we elevate servanthood over bridehood.Both the bride and the servant serve.What differs is the motive.A servant that doesnt serve is worthless but a bride is blessed in everything she does because as a true bride she does everything for her bridegroom---even doing nothing can be a blessing if she is doing nothing while enjoying His presence.Where ever we are in this maturing process we are to do it well.If we are babes--enjoy Daddy God.If we are a servant -- serve well and enjoy His mastership.If we come to be brides---keep the fire burning.A child has love for His father.A servant has love for His master but a bride is in love WITH her Lover.Whom will an employer share his deepest secrets with---an employee or his wife?As we have seen from parts 1 and 2 being a bride is our calling and is biblical.Lets experience Him now the way He wants us to.This is His will.