The One

"The closer I get to Him, the more He matters."

WHAT WE NEED of signs and wonders, or miracles, and God’s Presence, we must seek of the Holy Spirit, as a person, and not as objects or qualities of God. Much is said of “revival,” but that should be our hearts desiring more of HIM and not just visible evidences of Him. We have a hunger to see someone rise from a wheelchair or a deathbed, yet without hungering for Him as our Friend, we’ve missed the true joy of Him. We’ve skipped relationship and, even greater, Lordship, for what we can touch and taste and feel. But the external only comes from the Spirit’s leadership, from Him as Father and Christ.

Ephesians speaks of Christ as the bridegroom (and Christ is Father, Son, and Spirit), but not as separate from the relationship of a husband from his wife. In fact, his love for her is the point, and hers for him, as well. There, also, is submission. The wife honors her husband as her husband, holding the responsibilities of the husband over her health and happiness. She adores his care for her. He enjoys her trust in him. This image is also individual to us with the Spirit. He is our Comforter or paraclete. He knows us inside and out, and is with us anywhere we go and whatever we go through. But when we exclude Him in our time and decisions then we will not hear Him or know Him. To ask, then, for outward manifestations is to miss the whole beauty of Him living in us.

We can touch and hold, delight in God, every minute of every day. He is HERE, WITH US, and will never leave (Hebrews 13:5). I’ve come to realize His personality, as He knows mine, and it amazes me how at-arm’s-reach we’ve kept Him away. He longs to share our laughter, our personal interests, and especially our love for Jesus. He would pour out so much more of God into us if we’d make Him the priority and not just seek what He can do.

Prayer is conversation, and conversation is two-way. We speak and He replies. He speaks, and we answer. Too often, we’re either doing all the talking, or we’re waiting for that three a.m. mysterious phrase or mini-vision. Then we lay there, trying to interpret it, when He simply wants us to ask. Nothing He gives us of Truth and Wisdom is meant to be cloaked and obscure. Most often, they are pictures to turn our gazes in the correct direction, to reassure us, and to lead us forward. He is our Teacher. These were Jesus’ words (John 14:26). What an amazing teacher He is! We have, speaking to us, the Source of all things. Mr. Know-It-All.

He is also the Power of God which created the earth and everything on it. He breathed Life into Adam and formed Eve from Adam’s side. He raised Jesus from the dead (and many others, in the Word and in history). He is the Goodness of God. We’re incredibly shortsighted. That God pours out blessings “exceeding abundantly far over and above anything we could ever ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20) is His incredible generosity. His desire is to see us spiritually mature, eager for His Presence, in love with Jesus, close to the Father, and abounding in joy. When life was dark and darkness was loud, He made me laugh.

The Father intended to give us His best gift to help us live well and show forth the praises of Him who called us out of darkness (1 Peter 2:9), so He gave us His Spirit. What the Spirit desires to do in the church as a whole, in the earth, and in us personally, comes into fruition when He is the reason for it. When we’re seeking Jesus and setting down our personal ideas and natural agendas. The closer I get to Him, the more He matters and not all the stuff around me. I don’t need entertainment. I have my Papa. The closer I get, the more I see how selfish we still are, how self-centered, and filled with the physical. I asked Him why He’s shown me such things, and it’s not so much that He said anything, but that I know Him and have no doubts of the Truth.

He speaks because I’m listening, and I treasure Him. He speaks because I treasure people. They are valuable to me, and who I am today, is only because He has shown me the love of God from His point-of-view. Until we get that, we will miss Him entirely. We have been given salvation, the cleansing of our sins and an entrance to heaven when our life is over. But that is only the ticket to the concert. We can stand in the hallway and listen through the doors. What He wants is us to come backstage, to hear all that sets up the stage, that writes the songs, and to go forth in His footsteps with the Message.

We seek the balloons and streamers, the party favors. We’re all about the cake and ice cream. We want to open the gifts. We should show up to see the One we’re celebrating.

“The Lord looks down from heaven at the race of men, to find one soul that reflects, and makes God it's aim.” (Psalm 13(14):2, Knox)


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com