04/30/2009
Author: Gordon Douglas
Relational Spirituality
God is a relational being. The Trinity shows God as eternally existing in relationship. Man was also created by God to be relational. The Great commandment emphasizes the relation natures of both God and man. 37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)
Theologians down through the ages have recognized the need for knowledge of God and of ourselves. So Augustine says,“May we know thee, may we know ourselves.” Calvin’s Institutes begins with this twin topic.
Factor in the reality that we are insignificant creatures compared to God. He is all glorious, we are but dust. 1 O LORD , our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens... 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalms 8:1, 3-4 (NIV) Louie Giglio has recently emphasized the vastness, the immensity and grandeur of the cosmos that God has created in two ‘Passion’ talks – Indescribable and How Great is Our God. Modern astronomy has made the heavens even more amazing to ponder. God’s immensity and power are very evident in His creation.
Loving as God loves requires that we understand the love of God for us. Frail, conditional, performance based love is often what we experience in this world. God’s offer of unconditional love in His Son is beyond our experience and hopes. Yet, God not only offers it He gives us this love for the sake of His beloved, our Savior Jesus Christ. Once we taste God’s love then and only then can we begin to love God in return and love ourselves and others with genuine love.
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1. Loving God Completely
“Thanks be to thee, O Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits which thou hast given us;
for all the pains and insults which thou hast borne for us.
O most merciful redeemer, Friend and Brother,
May we know thee more clearly,
love thee more dearly and
follow thee more nearly;
for thine own sake.”
Richard of Chichester (1197-1253)
May we know thee more clearly; Two ways – time & obedience
May we love thee more dearly; We love because He first loved us; we love because we grow more in love with Him as we grow to know Him.
May we follow thee more nearly. Doing the will of God has to be based on our knowledge of Him and our love for Him. God calls us to obey Him disregarding the ways and wisdom of the world around us.
Many of you may remember Godspell (an archaic spelling of the word gospel) a 1970 musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since.
"Day By Day" from the original cast album, reached #13 on the Billboard pop singles chart in the summer of 1972. This song borrows from the above prayer and if you know it then it might help you recall this threefold prayer.
Day by day,
Day by day,
Oh, dear Lord, three things I pray.
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly,
Day by day.
2. Loving Ourselves Correctly*
We can be defined by our world or by our God. To love ourselves correctly is to see us as our God sees us. We must come to terms with our new identity in Christ. Who are you? What is your true identity? What defines you?
Parents, genetics, peers, our culture, and so forth defines who we are initially. Then comes education and earnings, family and friends, careers and cars, religion and politics; all of which define us to ourselves and others. But who are you? We must learn to see ourselves as God sees us. How do we do that? Who does God say that I am? Avoid the extremes!
Depravity – We are fallen human beings who never want others to see a video of our darkest thoughts and most depraved secret acts. However, worm theology (I am a miserable, rotten sinner; I’m worthless; God could never use me.) is not helpful but merely a passing reminder of how much grace we have received.
Dignity - We are created in the image of God. However, we are not to glory in this fact but rather to be humbled by the reality that God chose to give us this gift.
*See My Identity in Christ brochure.
3. Loving Others Compassionately
Expressing God’s Love to Others
“I cannot love others as God loves them. I can try to love them with the love of Christ.”
34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. John 13:34 (NLT)
Significance or Service?
The essence of true greatness is found by studying the life of Jesus. He is our great servant leader. 27 Normally the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant. Luke 22:27 (NLT) (cf. John 13).
Relationships – Messy and Meaningful
Our identification with Christ leads to our imitation of Christ and this by the power that is found in him. Self-centeredness leads us away from relationships as we seek power, possessions and pleasure. Relationships lead us into deeper relationship with God. Because God is a relational being who created us to be relational. In relationship we find joy, love and pleasure as we redefine pleasure as loving and serving God and others. Yes, relationships can be messy and cause great pain but the trade off is always worth it.
People – Givers and Takers. Some people energize us and ignite our passions. Some drain us and tend to quench our passions. Others do neither. Be aware of the givers and takers in your lives. Always have more givers than takers around you, if possible
Forgiveness – Relational Grace. Forgiveness heals us, whether we are asking for it or when we are extending it. Holding onto bitterness is like poisoning ourselves slowly day by day. Sometimes we need to forgive those who will never ask for forgiveness so that we might find healing.
12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Col 3:12-15 (ESV)
