A Proper Foundation

This morning I was reading in the Gospel of Matthew 7:21-23 NIV:

[21] “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' [23] Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

When I read these verses yesterday and again this morning two things stood out to me as the most critical in our walk.  In verse 21 it is clear that it is not our words, but rather our actions and obedience that are key.  In verse 23, it is clear that relationship is the other critical component.

I believe that our relationship with God is the foundation for all else.  It is because we know Him that we would even care what He says.  It is because we know Him and love Him that we desire to do what He says.  If our relationship with God is the most important thing, than basically Jesus is saying here that our relationship with Him will impact our actions, and should be the reason for our actions.  We can't just say we have a relationship with Him (verses 21) and we can't think our good works without relationship with Him will suffice either.  It must be a combination of both, real relationship first, then actions and not just words.

This is really pretty simple, but it is amazing how often we just focus on or hear one part.  The whole concept of a living relationship with God, like a relationship with another person, seems to be missing in many people's faith experience.  The idea of being a "Christian" is associated with being good, as in doing good things, or having a good heart, but the core of being a Christian is having a relationship with Christ and following Him.

It seems to me that there may be many "Christians" who label themselves as such, but who don't grasp this whole relationship concept.  To them God is wonderful and good, but far off and not really involved in their everyday life.  Thus, it is both easy and desired to distill down the Word of God into a list of things to do and not do, which separates us from the need to actually have a relationship with Him.  In doing so, we are missing the whole point!  God wants relationship with us, and the Holy Spirit, the Son and The Father all want to dwell with us and within us!

Jesus is addressing this very thing in verse 23.  He says that even if we are doing all sorts of good things, even miracles, in His name ("Christian"), but He doesn't know us (have relationship with us) that we will not be invited to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.  That might sound harsh, but Jesus was talking to the Jews whose only understanding of relationship with God came through following rules, and no real relationship component.  He was trying to cause them to shift paradigms, to lay the ground work for the New Covenant, which is completely based on relationship with Him, and through Him the Father and Holy Spirit.

So back to verse 21, one wonders how we know about the will of the Father?  Can we discern the will of the Father by aligning ourselves with a set of rules?  The Greek word which is translated will is Thelema which is a prolonged version of the word Thelo whose definition is as follows:

1) to will, have in mind, intend
    a) to be resolved or determined, to purpose
    b) to desire, to wish
    c) to love
       1) to like to do a thing, be fond of doing
    d) to take delight in, have pleasure

So back to the question can I know this (Definition above) about the Father without relationship and just through a set of rules?  As I wrote that sentence I was reminded of a verse from Psalm 51:16-17 NIV:

[16] "You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. [17] My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise."

- and again in Isaiah a similar theme is recorded -

Isaiah 1:11 NIV:

“The multitude of your sacrifices---what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats."

In Isaiah, God goes on to invite them to do things that are actually on His heart, things that He really desires - Isaiah 1:16-17, 19 NIV:

[16] "Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. [17] Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. [19] If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;"

God is effectively correcting a misperception of the people.  They thought He liked the burnt offerings and blood (because of the rules), and had no idea He really was after their hearts and minds being aligned with His, through relationship.  David is called a man after God''s own heart, and this is not because of his works and perfect following of the rules, but rather because he had a relationship with God that was personal and intimate.

In  summary, we are called and invited to pursue the Lord in relationship, and through relationship to know His will (heart and desires) and to act upon it.  This is supposed to be the foundation of everything.  Lord help us to walk in this way!