05/02/2017
I once had a friend ~ a christian friend ~ who was "hell bent" on the fact that our interaction with God was more about "rules" than RELATIONSHIP!! His Ministry, his life, and his conversation was about doing right to gain favor, etc. He would supposedly "go into" seclusion for days to seek answers. When God didn't give him the answer he wanted, he'd go into seclusion again. He was a true legalist trying to maintain healthy interaction with people, and dismissing them when "they" fell short!!
He had an impact on me only because he was a "minister" and former pastor who KNEW the word ~ but was a little off center with the application. He was a good writer, but was more concerned with demonstrating his preaching skill through writing he was with his teaching skills ~ that were greatly needed. He just couldn't minister to PEOPLE. Seemingly, he had something to prove!!
Sometimes God is impractical ~ but not always!! And when He said that He would ". . Confound the wise. ." He MEANT it!! I used to wonder why there were certain situations (major stories)in the Bible, in which RULES were broken, but there were no VISIBLE adverse consequences!! And while reading, Experiencing God, Papa simply said, "Vanessa, I told YOU a long time ago ~ it's about the RELATIONSHIP!!! Above all else ~ it's the relationship!! Although there are other things involved, It really IS that simple!!
And then . . . While reviewing the scripture from Pastor Drumwright's Sunday sermon, it hits me AGAIN!! Verse 22 of Luke (from the MSG translation) demonstrates how glad the Father was to restore the RELATIONSHIP!!! So much so, that he wasn't really listening to the words of the son ~ he SAW the son's humility and changed heart!!! That's how we know we've REALLY learned our lesson.
. . . I recently saw that my former friend has recently graduated/is slated to graduate from college in some area of Ministry/Divinity.
He has ~ or will have "the PAPER"!! The Credentials!!
MY PRAYER IS THAT HE WILL HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP!