As humans, we’re inclined to desire relationship. Through healthy relationships we receive affirmation, comfort, and correction from those who know us best. This is why religion can feel impersonal. Religion is a mentality that causes people to seek these things from the Bible rather than standing face to face in conversation with the author. This can make God feel more like something to be studied than someone to relate to.
If only we could stand face to face with God and ask our questions and hear His clear answers!!! If only we could be held in His arms and comforted in our weakest moments….
Religion has only given it’s followers a piece of the puzzle, not the complete picture. If you magnify the book instead of the one who wrote it, you could miss out on the relational qualities of God; assuming He wrote this and then stopped speaking. If God has already said all He has to say you’re now left with a mystery to solve…… where does your life fit into the Bible? And what do you do after you find yourself in it?
The most obvious place we find ourselves is forgiven by the blood of Jesus. For some this is enough but seeing Jesus’ great strength and love makes me want to know Him more. Knowing that my God CHOSE to be beaten beyond recognition and die a painful death to redeem me (Isaiah 52:14,) shows His great commitment to my well-being. That isn’t a God who speaks and then abandons His people. That is, in fact, the God who walks with His people daily and will never leave them. That’s the God who loves to spend time with His children and looks forward to answering their prayers. His heart is committed to us.
“Now they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” Gen 3:8a
“For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB
From the beginning of time God has been seeking relationship with his children. He placed His Spirit inside of Adam at his creation. (Gen. 2:7) God desired to walk with him and Eve. (Gen 3:8) Even when they sinned He didn’t abandon them. He taught them about the sacrificial system, made them clothing, and sent them out of the Garden in order to keep them from living in sin forever. (Gen. 3:22-23) God sincerely desires the best for humanity and He has gone to every extent to give it to us if only we would believe!
God gave us the Bible. It accurately documents the history of God’s work amongst His people. This book is meant to introduce us to the heart and character of our God. It is meant to produce a longing in us to know Him intimately and personally, as His people have in the past. He has revealed Himself to many. Can’t He reveal Himself to you too?
Faithful Jews memorized the Torah, and still do to this day. The entire Torah!! This memorization gave David the basis of faith and interaction with God. We can see this throughout the Psalms. Many times He quoted God’s past feats is his own life (check out Psalms 2,3,4, and 5. They’re quick reads but David goes deep.) and in the lives of those who went before him, such as Moses, Aaron, and Joshua. He references God’s judgement of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Psalm 11:6) in a declaration that he himself refused to be afraid of the wicked. He knew, without a doubt, that the Lord was his defender and that God punishes the wicked.
The Bible is our bridge to God. It is a point of connection between the physical and spiritual realms. It lets our minds in to God’s mind, our hearts into God’s heart. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) His heart toward man kind has not changed. His own character of mercy, unfailing love, and faithfulness hasn’t changed.
Exodus 34:6-10 shows us the character of God and His response to humble men, as well as his response to proud ones: And the LORD descended in a cloud, stood with him there, and proclaimed His name, the LORD. Then the LORD passed in front of Moses and called out:“ The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers on their children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.” Moses immediately bowed down to the ground and worshiped. “O Lord,” he said, “if I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our iniquity and sin, and take us as Your inheritance. And the LORD said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will perform wonders that have never been done in any nation in all the world. All the people among whom you live will see the LORD’s work, for it is an awesome thing that I am doing with you.”
Possessions have purpose, and without use they collect dust, take up space, and eventually get donated to the Salvation Army in hopes someone else will find a use for them. If God has love and doesn’t express it, it is useless. (Proverbs 27:5) It’s like owning a stove and never cooking a meal, or owning a chainsaw and never cutting down a tree. The angels are holy. They don’t need God’s mercy. The demons are condemned. They don’t receive God’s mercy. Whom else could this loving faithfulness be for besides humanity?
God’s heart is for us and He has given it to us without reserve, so if you want to know Him read your Bible (which addresses your mind and heart) and talk to Him. Welcome His Holy Spirit to come and meet with you. Welcome Him to
- speak to you as He did to Samuel (1 Sam 3:9-10)
- to comfort you as He did to David (Psalm 119:76)
- to lead you as He did to Moses and Joshua (the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy)
- to recruit you as He did to Barak and Deborah (Judges 4 & 5)
- to preserve and prosper you as He did to Joseph (Genesis 37, 39-41)
- to give you wisdom as He did to Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-14)
- to make you bold as He did to Peter and John (Acts 4:13)
- to set you on the right course as He did to Saul of Tarsus ( Acts 9)
- to call and empower you as He did to His disciples ( Luke 10:1-24)
- to heal and deliver you as the man in the graveyard (Mark 5:1-20)
- to free you of shame as He did to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4)
Trying to achieve these things on our own is religion. Step into the relationship with God that you long for. Lean fully on Him. Listen to His voice and obey. Let Him set you free and give you new life.