Needing each other

God's Word has some resounding themes. One of them is community. First is the Triune example of perfect community. The perfect give and take of perfect love. Just to contemplate the goodness of the Trinity gives warmth to my soul. I often long for a mere taste of perfect relationship.

I'm astounded at how tricky it can be for us to maintain relationships. I've spoken previously of the ongoing need to practice forgiveness when interacting with our brothers and sisters in our spiritual community. Today, I'm interested in talking more personally. I've been thinking about the obstacles in me that keep me from interacting wholly and wrecklessly in these relationships.

The first thing that jumps out at me is my rebellious nature....and before you agree too quickly, remember, you have one too! It's what's been wrong since Lucifer was kicked out of heaven and Adam & Eve partook in the Garden. Plain and simple we want what we think to be "right." We're polluted plain and simple. I am wrong. Often, not only am I wrong, but I refuse to be submitted to or measured by Truth. I find myself to be unwilling to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit, often using the excuse that He's used another of His broken vessels to deliver the message. Truthfully, it's not the vessel of delivery in question, it's the attitude of my heart!

I'm growing to understand that my innately rebellious spirit is as much of the problem in experiencing God inspired and ordained relationship as anything that might exist outside of me!

In her book study, "Breaking Free," Beth Moore suggests some characteristics of the rebellious child of God:

• They don't act like a child of God (not perfect behavior, but you know in your heart that things aren't what you make them seem!)
  
• They aren't willing to listen to the Lord's instruction (if we ignore God because we don't what to be corrected, redirected or challenged to change - that's rebellion)
  
• They prefer pleasant illusions over truth (do you only listen to the things that you want to hear? can you get beyond flattering talk?)
  
• They rely on oppression (I hear the voice of the victim here...always a victim, never an overcomer)
  
• They depend on deceit (a most dangerous place, we must line all beliefs up with scripture!)
  
• They run from real answers (simple conclution to everything else presented)
  

It's easy to shrug these suggestions off, but they are foundationally correct and Biblically sound. I find that the more I seek to please the LORD, the pickier He gets about items like this. He draws me into close relationship, but He will not let me cling to my excuses.

I wonder what you'd find if you asked the Spirit to do a check for rebellious reactions & motivations. I wonder if you'd be willing to yield in obedience to the work He's wanting to accomplish in your life, through those relationships that seem most unlikely. Can you hear His whisper?