Enjoying His Presence or A Performance Review?

   If you have read the ABOUT page on this website, you know the four important areas of life at The Cultural Skeptic are: Faith, Family, Freedom and Money. 

   But there haven’t been many posts about Faith. Challenging the conventional narrative can be tricky when it comes to Faith. For most of us, our beliefs are solid and sacred, and we don’t appreciate them being trifled with. 

   Nevertheless, Christians aren’t immune to having blind spots and adopting a stance that runs counter to what we believe about God. 

   The words used when talking about Christianity reveal how we see God, whether realized or not. Like the old country preacher used to say, ‘What’s down in the well comes up in the bucket.’

   Recently some friends were sharing quiet time routines and revelations. I noticed a recurring theme throughout. 

When Quiet Time Becomes Self-Evaluation

   Much of the conversation was: Repenting, Forgiveness for sin, Lack of obedience and vows to do better going forward. 

   The focus was on the shortfalls and areas to improve. For some, the self-criticism is a way to show God how seriously they take their walk. 

   Actually, I think it shows a distortion of our view of Him. 

   Devotionals to begin the day can take several forms; silence, music, reading or prayer. Whatever the custom is, it’s generally to seek and connect with God first thing in the morning. We want to direct our focus and establish the right mindset. 

Father Or Disappointed Boss?

   But if the focus is on everything we did wrong, the quiet time can become a performance review with a boss who doesn’t like us very much. It’s a poor mindset to start our day. 

   What if we approach Him as a good Father who wants to be with us, hear our voice and has our best interests in mind? 

   “The Lord’s love never ends; His mercies never stop. They are new every morning.”  Lamentations 3:22-23 NCV

Living Under Grace

   I’m not playing fast and loose with rebellion, but we are battling a defeated enemy. 

   “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 NIV 

   Jesus dealt with the sin problem, but sometimes we live in the Old Testament where it’s still an issue. Our feeling of connection to the Lord shouldn’t rise or fall based on our behavior. If it does, we are living more under the Law than under Grace. I never want to be there. I’m addicted to Grace and can’t survive an hour without it.

   Fellowship with Christ shouldn’t be about how well we kept the rules. It’s about a relationship so valuable, He would die to have it with us. In fact, He did.  

He Calls Us Friends

   If you humanize this discussion, it becomes clearer.

   I have two adult children I completely adore. When there’s a plan to meet up, I look forward to it, enjoy it and bask in every minute we’re together. 

   I don’t bring a list of flaws I wish they would work on, ever. We eat, talk, share what’s important and enjoy the time. 

   God desires the same with you and me. I am NOT a better father than God is. 

   “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 NASB 

   Jesus is calling us to friendship. He longs to share inside knowledge. How amazing is this? The Son of God wants to be personal friends with us! Like the kind of friend we have in our ‘Favorites’ list of phone numbers.

Already Accepted

   He doesn’t want employees. But too often Christians act as new hires, hoping to get through the probationary period, showing up and toeing the line so as to be accepted permanently. 

   You are already accepted.

   To be clear, I’m not advocating for slothfulness, but pointing out how striving for a good performance can diminish the love and relationship aspect. 

   There’s another angle on the humanized argument of this. My wife and I have coffee together every day. Depending on the weather, it may be in the backyard or around the table. Either way, we sit and consume caffeine and chat. There’s no agenda or list of discussion topics. 

   We’re just together. We talk or sometimes just wake up slowly and enjoy the day.  There is a quality to it which is hard to define. It’s not productive. We don’t solve major issues or make big decisions. We’re just hanging out.

Learning To Simply Be With God

   I believe the Lord desires (and deserves) the same quality of satisfying time with us as we have with our loved ones. 

   Tomorrow morning, begin your day in the luxuriousness of Grace and acceptance. Enjoy the presence of a God who wants to spend time with one of His favored ones. Corrections and adjustments will still come, just in a kinder, less self-condemning way.