One of the definitions parents often have of a “good kid” is one who cares what their parents think. Yes, there are some children who actually care what their parents think about them and in many areas of their life provides a boundary of what they will or will not do. I am convinced that one of the essential steps toward addressing serious habitual sinful behavior in our life is when we finally realize that God the Father takes it personally. “How I have been hurt by their adulterous hearts which turned away from Me“.

It is easy to see school as just a set of rules, family as another set of rules, the workplace as having its own set of rules, and ultimately that our church life is yet just another environment with its own parameters. We become accustomed to knowing the general boundaries of behavior within each situation and what things we can “get away with”. But things quickly change whenever the situation becomes personal for whatever reason. An up close and personal relationship with our boss or teacher can provide the basis for a mini hell on earth or provide the support necessary to successfully propel us to the next level.

I think that like the church in Ephesus to whom Jesus wrote in Revelation 2, that one of the sure signs of someone who has lost their first love is when they no longer see themselves as a member of God’s family as much as being confined by a set of rules. This is the very definition of “religion” in its most negative connotation. Any time we are in a legitimate personal relationship with someone we have a heightened response to what they feel and think more than others. If you don’t really care then its easier to allow sin to linger and to pursue those things contrary to what a good son’s or daughter’s consideration of what their Father thinks.

A faithful spiritual relationship throughout Scripture is repeatedly exemplified by a faithful marriage; unfaithfulness is repeatedly personified as adultery. What kind of relationship will someone have when they no longer care what their spouse, the person who is supposed to be closer to them and more important to them than anyone else in the world, thinks about them? It is truly one of the undeniable barometers of our true spiritual state, the degree to which we care what God thinks about us. _††_†

 [Email this Journal Entry]  [Print this Journal Entry]

This journal entry is filed under 26: Ezekiel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.