In the blanks below write the two most significant statements in today’s reading assignment. Be prepared to discuss why the statements you chose were significant to you.
“ marriage was created by God to mirror the kind of relationship he wishes to have with us. Intimate fellowship with God, as we can see, is more than just ‘being on speaking terms’ – good analogy
“A relationship with God includes the same basic elements of learning about Him (revelation), followed by much personal interaction with Him. – not a lot of quoteworthy passages”
The text makes a distinction between ‘nothing between my soul and the Savior’ and much going on between my soul and the savior. What is meant by the contrast of these two statements?
“The absence of a negative is not the same as the presence of a positive.”
Describe the differences in the relationships of two married couples – one couple shares only mutual interests; the other shares mutual intimacy.
“passion gone/passion alive and well ”
Strong personal relationships are characterized by continual personal interaction. Discuss specific things that would have to change with your relationship to God before you could say you have continual personal interaction. If your relationship with God is already at this level, describe the kind of continual personal interaction that you enjoy with Him.
“I have moments when I think to spontaneously thank Him or remember right away to ask for His help (typically when I can’t find something). I need to turn this into more of a habit.”
Praise – “You are unique, unsurpassed, unchanging, uplifting and ubiquitous.”
Repent – “I’m sorry I’m not more intimate with You.”
Yield – “Help me have more desire to seek you more intimately.”
Dearest Rachel –
When dealing with the intangible, it’s useful to have a tangible analogue to give one at least a rough idea of how best to deal with what we can’t sense. In this case, a God that wants to have a relationship with us; it helps to have some grasp of human relationships in order to better understand the way we are to interact with Him as well.
It doesn’t map perfectly, of course; even the tangible v. intangible dichotomy itself indicates that there’s a difference between the supernal and its supposed terrestrial analogue, one that could be so vast as to render the comparison all but useless. Then again, these are comparisons we’re given by Him directly toward the end of understanding Him, so we have to assume they’re at least somewhat trustworthy.
At the same time, they do tend to depend on our own perspective. If we grew up with a father who was stern and abusive, or neglectful or absent, it would color our image of God as Father. You and I had good and decent men representing Him (however knowingly or not), honey, and thus had much less difficulty with that understanding of Him in that role toward us.
Likewise, the intimate relationship He desires with us can be compared to that of a husband and wife; equally so, having a good earthly relationship with a spouse can make it that much easier to approach Him in that capacity as well. Then again, even the best earthly relationships often demand a certain amount of attention that (time being a zero-sum game) can one away from one’s relationship with God. And the physical component of marriage is difficult to map onto that of ours with deity, even as it’s used over and over throughout scripture (consider the comparisons in the Old Testament of Israel as an adulterous wife); how, exactly, is that supposed to operate between ourselves and God, especially since we can’t so much as perceive Him with our sense, let alone let Him utterly fill them?
Yeah, I have so many questions about this, since I’m all too likely to take words like ‘intimacy’ literally, and find it seems absurd in this relationship. As far as Him knowing everything about me, I can accept that without question, given that He’s all-knowing by definition. And He’s written to us about Himself, so we can know Him to a certain extent, in turn, although at a certain point, it’s only so much. But experiencing Him intimately… that’s a challenge; I don’t trust myself to be able to distinguish between Him and my own emotions, and can only recognize them in retrospect by the good they accomplish (or don’t)
So, as you asked for the desire to seek Him more, I suppose I need to ask for the ability to discern His presence. And to that end, if you could wish me well, I’d appreciate it, because I’m going to need it.
Letters to Rachel 