Relationship part 4
Jesus came to show us the Father. The FATHER. Because He wanted us to experience His abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life. And the definition of that life is found in John 17:3, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Knowing the Father and the Son. Knowing the Father because you know that you ARE His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. Knowing the Father's love for you through the Holy Spirit. Right? Those who are led by the Spirit are the Son(s) of God. Because that's where the Spirit leads. He is the Spirit of truth that leads and guides us into all truth. The truth that we are unconditionally loved. The truth that we are Jesus--God in the flesh, love in a body. And that relationship between God and man... God IN man... is what equips and empowers us to have relationships with each other. We don't have to be afraid of giving what we've got because we know that we are connected to the unlimited source. He is the vine and we are the branches. He produces the fruit of the Spirit (which is love) and we carry it to those who need it. It's all about timing and connection. At the appointed time of the cross, Jesus brought us all together. God was in Christ reconciling us to Himself. He was lifted up from the earth and drew all men into Himself. Now we know the FATHER because we identify ourselves completely as (and with) the Son. We don't live FOR God, in the sense that He's our boss and we better do what He says or else. That's not a relationship built on love. We live BY God. We live IN God. Because He lives IN us. The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into His hands. That means we have everything we need. We can be all things to all people. We can connect on the most important level--Spirit to Spirit, holy to holy--and instead of letting all the details separate us, we can let love bind us together. You don't have to agree with somebody to be kind to them. To love them. You simply have to be so full of love that it overflows naturally. And that's where we are. That's that relationship between Father and Son. That's what happens when you stop trying to earn Daddy's love and just let Him love the hell out of you. That's what happens when you test the height, and depth, and length, and breath of God's love for you by loving others bigger than you ever thought you could. And that's the power working in you to do more than you could ask or even think. That's when being vulnerable isn't scary anymore. Because perfect love casts out fear. You can build walls if you want to, but that doesn't really protect you. It really just cuts you off from what you want most. Or you can build bridges. You can follow your heart and let love be your guide. You can have real relationships when you stop being afraid of what might (or might not) happen. When you let what's inside you come out, simply by knowing and believing that it (Jesus, LOVE) is in there!