I recently had an exciting e-conversation with someone that contacted me on my professional site. This person has a strong biblical name and a geographically predominant ser-name. Intrigued, I asked about this person’s name.
From the brief e-dialogue, I determined they grew up in a Christian home but, at some point, decided to no longer pursue a Christian way of life. I asked if this were so and was told it was.
I speculate that my newfound friend grew up (probably in a very strict home, knowing the culture) knowing about God but never found a close personal relationship with the godhead.
Sadly, my friend’s story echoes many others who saw religion in action, not God’s heart. For this reason, I began this journey to write about—and hopefully discover—a close personal relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
Religion is a powerful tool often used by the adversary, the devil, to keep well-intended Christians from becoming Christ-followers. Religion keeps you wrapped up in rules, regulations, and regiments of “doing” things and calls it a relationship.
For example, I read through the Bible for years, but not until I began looking into the stories behind the reading did I find a relationship with God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit. The hit television series The Chosen delves into this by daring to imagine the story behind the story. The result is they (Biblical characters) appear genuine and alive. Jesus is real and compassionate rather than rigid and religious.
The New Testament writer, the Apostle Paul, says this about a close personal relationship with the godhead. “Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, Christ died unnecessarily.” Galatians 2 The Message
The apostle is not against daily disciplines (he addresses that in another place). He is saying that a close personal relationship with the godhead (as I call it) is not about checking off your chore chart—like how many chapters you read, how long he spent on your knees praying, or how many people you attempted to hand a gospel-track.
A close personal relationship is about enjoying the journey (probably like Adam and Eve in the Old Testament book of Genesis) and learning about God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. You will find many thoughts to help you along in your journey.
Invite your friends, and follow along; maybe you will find your unexpected journey.