I grew up in a devoutly Catholic family, and while that upbringing definitely provided a foundation of Christian belief in my life, it also left me with the sense that God was too high and too holy to be approached directly.
In those days, I participated in the sacraments, and trusted that the “Church” knew what they were doing in regards to keeping me in right standing with God. It wasn’t until years later, when I heard some of my evangelical friends asking whether I had a personal relationship with Jesus that I even realized such a thing might exist.
When I eventually decided to read the Bible for myself, I was on the lookout for the scripture that said this “personal relationship” was something God wanted. Here is what I found.
Right off the bat, I ran into the creation story, and particularly the events that took place in the Garden of Eden. Even a Catholic boy knows that story, but for the first time I found myself considering God’s perspective.
I’d always been taught that the garden was essentially paradise, and that God was offering what amounted to an ideal existence. But I wondered what God might have gained from this arrangement, if man had not chosen to go his own way.
After reviewing the passage multiple times, the only benefit He seemed to derive was the ability to walk with them in the cool of the day (Gen.3:8), which caused me to consider that maybe that was all He really wanted.
Despite the disappointment in the garden, God takes another step toward man, as He initiates a covenant with Abraham (Gen.15). And before the end of the first book of the Bible, I came across the story of Jacob wrestling with God, and having his named changed to Israel (Gen.32:28).
Though Jacob was hardly a model character, God seemed impressed by his desire to interact with Him. These encounters seemed to be clear expressions of God’s desire for a tangible relationship with His people.
While the Exodus story was filled with spectacular miracles, I couldn’t help but notice that God seemed to want to personally guide them through the wilderness, as He appears as a cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night (Exo.13:21), and spoke directly to them from Mount Sinai (Exo.19:16-22).
Unfortunately, the Israelites recoiled from that personal communication, instead, asking Moses to act as their intermediary (Exo.20:19).
Later, when the children of Israel clamored for an earthly king (1Sam.8), the Lord lamented that He had wanted to be their king (1Sam.12:12-15).
After reading of David’s escapades with Bathsheba, and Uriah (1Sam.11), it was almost jarring to hear him referred to as a “man after God’s own heart (1Sam.13:14),” and yet, despite his serious transgressions, the Father seemed pleased by David’s relentless pursuit of Him.
It wasn’t lost on me that after Solomon received the gift of wisdom, he began having visions of intimacy (Song of Songs). And I found it interesting that amongst the Lord’s criteria for effective prayer (2Chron.7:14), He listed “seek my face.”
Though we naturally tend to seek God’s hand of protection, provision, and deliverance, seeking His face eludes to the personal nature of the relationship He desires.
A few chapters later, this is reinforced with the understanding that the Lord “goes to and fro about the earth, looking for hearts that are truly His (2Chron.16:9).”
When queried about the “greatest commandment,” Jesus doesn’t speak of obedience, or service, or building the church, He puts it squarely on loving the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and strength (Matt.22). And when His work on the cross was finished, the veil that separated His people from the presence of God was ripped open (Matt.27:51).
Later, the Hebrew writer would explain that the Levitical priesthood would never have led to the type of relationship the Lord desired (Heb.7-10), and in the book of Revelation God’s children are referred to as a kingdom of priests (Rev.1:6).
Paul spoke of how we could now behold Him with unveiled faces (2Cor.3:18), and of how the Lord would one day return for a spotless bride (Eph.5:27).
Over and over again, both in word and deed, the Lord expresses His strong desire to walk closely with His children, and almost as regularly, we see people who call themselves by His name choose their own path (Prov.14:12).
Perhaps the scariest scripture in the gospels occurs when Jesus tells His disciples that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven. Not because of their sin, but because of their lack of genuine connection to Him (Matt.7:23).
It is a chilling thought that one who anticipates the words, “well done good and faithful servant (Matt.25:21)” might hear, “away from me, I never knew you (Matt.7:23).”
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Bjcorbin's Blog 
Getting Personal
Posted in Commentaries, tagged Evangelical, I never knew you, Personal, personal relationship, personally, pursuit, relationship, sacraments, seek my face on November 25, 2024| Leave a Comment »
I grew up in a devoutly Catholic family, and while that upbringing definitely provided a foundation of Christian belief in my life, it also left me with the sense that God was too high and too holy to be approached directly.
In those days, I participated in the sacraments, and trusted that the “Church” knew what they were doing in regards to keeping me in right standing with God. It wasn’t until years later, when I heard some of my evangelical friends asking whether I had a personal relationship with Jesus that I even realized such a thing might exist.
When I eventually decided to read the Bible for myself, I was on the lookout for the scripture that said this “personal relationship” was something God wanted. Here is what I found.
Right off the bat, I ran into the creation story, and particularly the events that took place in the Garden of Eden. Even a Catholic boy knows that story, but for the first time I found myself considering God’s perspective.
I’d always been taught that the garden was essentially paradise, and that God was offering what amounted to an ideal existence. But I wondered what God might have gained from this arrangement, if man had not chosen to go his own way.
After reviewing the passage multiple times, the only benefit He seemed to derive was the ability to walk with them in the cool of the day (Gen.3:8), which caused me to consider that maybe that was all He really wanted.
Despite the disappointment in the garden, God takes another step toward man, as He initiates a covenant with Abraham (Gen.15). And before the end of the first book of the Bible, I came across the story of Jacob wrestling with God, and having his named changed to Israel (Gen.32:28).
Though Jacob was hardly a model character, God seemed impressed by his desire to interact with Him. These encounters seemed to be clear expressions of God’s desire for a tangible relationship with His people.
While the Exodus story was filled with spectacular miracles, I couldn’t help but notice that God seemed to want to personally guide them through the wilderness, as He appears as a cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night (Exo.13:21), and spoke directly to them from Mount Sinai (Exo.19:16-22).
Unfortunately, the Israelites recoiled from that personal communication, instead, asking Moses to act as their intermediary (Exo.20:19).
Later, when the children of Israel clamored for an earthly king (1Sam.8), the Lord lamented that He had wanted to be their king (1Sam.12:12-15).
After reading of David’s escapades with Bathsheba, and Uriah (1Sam.11), it was almost jarring to hear him referred to as a “man after God’s own heart (1Sam.13:14),” and yet, despite his serious transgressions, the Father seemed pleased by David’s relentless pursuit of Him.
It wasn’t lost on me that after Solomon received the gift of wisdom, he began having visions of intimacy (Song of Songs). And I found it interesting that amongst the Lord’s criteria for effective prayer (2Chron.7:14), He listed “seek my face.”
Though we naturally tend to seek God’s hand of protection, provision, and deliverance, seeking His face eludes to the personal nature of the relationship He desires.
A few chapters later, this is reinforced with the understanding that the Lord “goes to and fro about the earth, looking for hearts that are truly His (2Chron.16:9).”
When queried about the “greatest commandment,” Jesus doesn’t speak of obedience, or service, or building the church, He puts it squarely on loving the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and strength (Matt.22). And when His work on the cross was finished, the veil that separated His people from the presence of God was ripped open (Matt.27:51).
Later, the Hebrew writer would explain that the Levitical priesthood would never have led to the type of relationship the Lord desired (Heb.7-10), and in the book of Revelation God’s children are referred to as a kingdom of priests (Rev.1:6).
Paul spoke of how we could now behold Him with unveiled faces (2Cor.3:18), and of how the Lord would one day return for a spotless bride (Eph.5:27).
Over and over again, both in word and deed, the Lord expresses His strong desire to walk closely with His children, and almost as regularly, we see people who call themselves by His name choose their own path (Prov.14:12).
Perhaps the scariest scripture in the gospels occurs when Jesus tells His disciples that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the Kingdom of heaven. Not because of their sin, but because of their lack of genuine connection to Him (Matt.7:23).
It is a chilling thought that one who anticipates the words, “well done good and faithful servant (Matt.25:21)” might hear, “away from me, I never knew you (Matt.7:23).”
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