Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – the enablement for relationship with God is God given. He is not moved to relational integrity by me, He forever stands firm, and my firm standing is not founded on my heroic love behaviours, but in Him and all He gives me.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 NIV
[21] Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, [22] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Observation
My relationship with Jesus is not based on my capacity in any form. Everything for relational integrity is given to me by God and his love for me, and not by my heroic efforts of “standing firm”. He gives me the power, position, presence and assured hope, that enables me to remain centred in his love. The power to stand firm comes from God in the anointing of his presence. The position to stand firm is gifted as I am given the position of sonship and I am family. His ever present uncaused love for me is in my heart, drawing me, wooing me, assuring me of my relationship. And then I have the assured hope of the eternal future enjoyed in his uninterrupted love and beauty. My standing firm all comes from God and His goodness to me.
So when I behave in a way that breaks the heart of my lover, when I am adulterous in where I place my loves, I don’t try harder to right my wrongs, rather I return to the power for relational integrity, Gods power in me, my sonship, His love for me, and my assured future. These are the means for relational integrity, not my efforts to be. It’s embracing my weakness that enables His strength. I lament my infidelity, I don’t cover up the situation, but I do not set myself on the course of rewooing my lover, or repaying him for my fallenness, this is disgusting to him, rather I recognise His goodness to me and lean, and stand fully, in him. Everything to remain in love, love gives me in himself.
Application
Stand firm on Gods terms, not in my efforts. I am not the knight who rides in to save the day, I am the damsel in distress, God rides always in with His power, presence, declaration and hope to save and enable me to be all that He has invited me to be in Him. Whenever I look to me I am looking the wrong way. My responsibility is to fix my eyes on Him.
How quickly I jump on the horse and make a mess?!?!
Response
Thank you that life in you is enables by you. That being loved by you is assured and enabled by you. I love this life that gives me freedom to choose but does not demand of me capacities that are beyond me. My choice of you releases in you all I need to stand firm in my relationship with you. Great life.
Meditation
Meditate – stand firm in Christ.
Consider:
Where do I place my strength to enable relational integrity?
How often do I question my firm standing?
JOURNEY DEEPER
