Make It Personal
When a relationship with Jesus is strictly business.
One day old: Boy, am I glad that dad is right here by my side. It’s a cruel world and his familiar voice and touch make me feel safe.
One year old: Now that I can walk, I don’t think I need my dad as much anymore. I can just wander anywhere and I’ll be okay.
Ten years old: My dad is so cool. I wait for him to come home, and I love it when we can play games together. Besides Harry Potter and Shrek, he’s my biggest hero.
Fifteen years old: Dad, just leave me alone. Stop telling me what to do. You’re ruining my life.
Forty years old: Hey dad, it’s me, how are you and mom doing? Need help with anything around the house?
Funny, isn’t it, how our relationship with dad changes back and forth over the years. It teeter-totters between a dependent, personal, and caring relationship and an independent, impersonal, and distant relationship. Kind of like our relationship with the Lord, which can do the same. I came across the following article and share it with you with the hope and prayer that you see how destructive and impersonal a distant relationship is: with Jesus or with dad.
“You hear a lot about people trying to work on their spirituality, get in touch with their God. Some people seem to want to be as close as possible with the Lord. Not me. My relationship with Jesus Christ is strictly business.
He’s my carpenter. Handled the addition we put on the master bedroom. Works fast, polite to the kids, doesn’t work weekends. Technically, he’s a carpenter/messiah, because of the dying-for-my-sins thing. Saying my sins is kind of weird; it’s the accumulated sins of all of humanity, not just my stuff. I’m not ungrateful, but I also don’t want to get that thrown back in my face all the time. The last thing I need is him trying to guilt me into bringing him lemonade when he’s out on the roof.
If it gets too personal with your savior, things can get weird. Out of nowhere, Jesus will start dropping hints about maybe going bowling, getting a bite to eat after church. Next thing you know he’s ‘just dropping in’ every Saturday afternoon and inviting me to join his softball team, or go with him to wash the lepers. No thanks .…
Don’t get me wrong, Jesus is a nice guy. We just don’t have that kind of a relationship.”
Children can and should have personal relationships with their parents, and parents with their children, so give it a shot. And Christians are blessed that we have a personal relationship with Jesus. He’s more than a nice guy. He’s our Savior.
PRAYER: Dearest Jesus, I admit that I have sometimes been embarrassed because of you. I have also wished for our relationship to be more business and not so personal. Thanks for not giving me what I wish for, and not treating me like I have treated you. Thanks for your forgiveness and love. I do need you. I do treasure our personal relationship and pray that in your mercy you never leave me nor forsake me. Let’s make our relationship grow, and enjoy each other. Let’s spend more time together. And as we do so, I’ll count on you to help me be more personal and caring in my relationships with others, especially my family. Amen.
(Article from Sean Keane, “My relationship with Jesus is strictly business,” as quoted in Homiletics Magazine, May/June 2004, p. 72.)