Relationships with God (Trinity)
I have realised something these past two days as I studied the word of God.
A lot of times when God has instructed us to serve others, it's to teach us how to serve him. When he instructs us to honour our parents, (Colossians 3:20 Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord) it's because we need to learn how to honour so we can apply that honour onto him. God aims to make himself relatable to our lives so we may be able to develop a good relationship with him. His commandments of service are a reflection of how he is to us or how we should be to him.
God is our Friend, Father and our Master.
Jesus (The Son)
After the first sin, we lost our friendship with God because our spirits were contaminated with sin, therefore were unable to relate with God. Jesus came down to restore that friendship with God by dying for our sins. In a friendship, the two members need to relate, somehow, and Jesus' death allowed our spirits to relate to his in purity. Jesus went through trials, gave up his privileges in heaven, lived a life as a slave and died a criminal's death just so that we can relate with him and have a friendship with him.
Romans 5:11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
Being a friend of God also requires faith. Having faith in God shows a good friendship with God. Any type of friendship without trust is shambles, therefore, trust is an important element in forming a friendship with God.
James 2:23
And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.
It was Abraham's faith that classified him as a friend of God. He had a relationship with God that allowed him to wholeheartedly TRUST God which is required in a good friendship. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in The Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path"
The Father
As our Father, it's where our obedience should come through when instructed to do something that's of his will. This characteristic also shows us his love for us. The Father side of God reveals his love for us and his desperation for us to be saved from the chains of the enemy.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.- To have a son is to be a parent, in this case a father which is when his love was expressed. As a father.
Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”
If these are just instructions for our earthly parents then how much more for our Father in heaven? By learning how to obey our parents on earth, it reflects righteousness before God and that pleases God (Colossians 3:20).
The Holy Spirit
How to serve God as our master?
God also instructs service from the slaves to masters.
Colossians 3:22 (Also in Ephesians 6:5-6)
22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord.
Colossians 4:1 4 Masters, be just and fair to your slaves. Remember that you also have a Master—in heaven.
Instructions for the "slaves" is to also obey the masters, as we should obey our parents, however to also try and please them at ALL times! To serve them SINCERELY because of your reverent fear of the Lord. As God is also our Master, we should aim to apply these instruction to him and, in fact, amplify the service. Trying to please God all the time suggests the thrive to be righteous before him. It's to fear him during the service.
Being a slave or servant of God requires us to go out of our way to please God. Stepping out in faith just to make God smile and to be in his favour. A role of a servant requires so much more than just a relationship. It requires a need for approval from God in everything you do. This is what God wants. He wants us to develop that relationship with him where all we want is him involved in our lives and to approve our ways.
God wants to be involved in EVERYTHING you do, because he wants you to prosper in everything you do. "Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4
He is willing to give you the desires of your HEART if you find the great pleasure in him.
Anything we obey, we become slaves to. The Holy Spirit has been poured into us and lives in us to direct us in life. We are instructed to be "led" by the Spirit of God, and to be led means to follow. Following the Holy Spirit symbolises our acceptance of His authority as our Master.
Why all of this?
I wrote this to remind you of a few different things to take into consideration when serving God.To not forget that he is our friend, therefore be transparent, have faith and be honest with him. To not forget he is our Father, that he cares for us, loves us, protects us and wants the best for us. To also not forget that he is our master, there to guide us, and we should aim to please him and be in his favour at all times. Seek for that intimacy with God because he's longing for you. Seek with all your heart and I promise you, you will find him. He reveals himself to those willing. Be intentional in your seeking and watch God work ;)
Written by Rue.,2017
Inspired by the Holy Spirit