Us



Deu 4:1  Now listen, Israel, listen carefully to the rules and regulations that I am 
     teaching you to follow so that you may live and enter and take possession of the     
     land that GOD, the God-of-Your-Fathers, is giving to you. 
Deu 4:2  Don't add a word to what I command you, and don't remove a word from it. 
     Keep the commands of GOD, your God, that I am commanding you. 

Deu 4:39  Know this well, then. Take it to heart right now: GOD is in Heaven above; 
     GOD is on Earth below. He's the only God there is. 
Deu 4:40  Obediently live by his rules and commands which I'm giving you today so 
     that you'll live well and your children after you--oh, you'll live a long time in     
     the land that GOD, your God, is giving you. 


     There is a way to the land God has given us. In the Old Testament this way was found 
in obeying every single rule to the letter. By aligning oneself with the commands of 
God, there was displayed a heart of worship. This was the plan anyhow. 

     I knew that I had made it known exactly what I wanted done. It had been very clear 
in my mind as I laid out exactly the tasks that should be accomplished and the 
manner in which to do them. I saw the completion of those things in an excellent way 
that would bring a sense of accomplishment to both him and me. I saw us going on to 
more enjoyable activities, having drawn closer together through his willingness to 
heed my directives. It was like his diligence to do what I said would be a direct 
reflection of his heart towards me. His obedience, the accomplished tasks, and our 
enhanced relationship would make it possible to go on to all of the things that he 
might want to do himself. 
     So, why was there an apparent disregard for almost everything I had said, and why 
did it appear that nothing was obeyed as I had spoken? Why, instead of being 
enhanced in our relationship, was there this great rift created in the place where the 
bond should be? All those close moments that had been anticipated now seemed to 
be lost forever without any hope of recovery. Instead of a feeling of accomplishment, 
there was just a great feeling of disappointment on my part and great failure on his, 
hardly elements on which to build a meaningful relationship. There had to be a way 
to get him to do things as needed, but the way to accomplish this had to be adjusted. 
My words alone had not brought this to pass. 
      While adherence on his part would definitely turn things around, and while there 
would be great possibilities in his attention to details, his identification with failure 
now made that possibility far out of reach. The division between us held little hope in 
being mended by continual insistence upon his attaining perfection. For there to be 
progress made towards excellence for him and a meaningful relationship for us, 
there would have to be an adjustment made first on my part, before he could begin to 
grow out of the pattern of failure that was so destructive for him and divisive for us. I 
would have to find a way to help him see that first of all our relationship, and my love 
and favor towards him would not ride on his ability to follow my direction to the 
letter. He would have to become secure in his ability to apply himself without fear of 
what might take place as a result of his efforts. As his confidence in and enjoyment of 
our relationship grew, there would hopefully be a growing motivation to listen and 
heed the words that I would speak. Out of devotion and loyalty there would be 
compliance with anything spoken because of desire rather than fear. To 
communicate the reality of these adjustments and to help Him experience the joy of 
successful living would have to be my lifelong quest. Through eyes that had become 
so clouded with failure he would surely begin to see the light of those great 
possibilities within him. My every moment with him and every word spoken would 
be an opportunity to affirm him and establish the security of our relationship. All 
those things so needed in him would surely be developed and fulfilled, and he would 
be able to know his true purpose for living. In this my purpose would be fulfilled. 

Mat 5:17  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not 
     come to destroy, but to fulfil. 

     He came to be with us no matter what- Immanuel, God with us- the Friend that 
sticks closer than a brother- with us always, even unto the end of the world. In Him 
was an assurance of relationship no matter what. As soon as there was a turning to 
Him, there would be an open embrace. While before it required doing everything to 
perfection in order to be in God's presence, in Christ it has become possible to be 
there no matter the degree of failure. It's possible to approach His throne without 
fear of rejection because of failure. Our abilities or inabilities are no longer factors, 
as Jesus has fulfilled all of the law's requirements. Now it is our privilege to abide in 
His presence and begin to be motivated by desire to please Him, rather than by worry 
and fear. As Jesus has taken all of our failures, He has also provided His ability and 
strength, so that abiding in Him doesn't just mean freedom from consequences of 
failure, but also progress towards excellence in all that is done to more adequately 
reflect the presence of the Master. 
     There is a life of holiness and perfection to be lived by each one. The way to that 
life is greatly hindered by focus on the dos and don'ts alone. In fact, focus on the 
rules alone will insure that they are broken. Getting past the rules to the relationship, 
however, makes possible this identity with success that cannot help but rub off on 
conduct in a great way. Loving Him completely will open the doors to success and 
abundance in a happy, fun place. He came to bring abundant life. It is just up to us to 
not turn away from that relationship that is ours. The only way our failure is assured 
is when our back is turned to His face and our arms are closed to His embrace. When 
we draw close to Him, He draws close to us. 

Draw me nearer still till I'm enveloped by Your love
And living the full reason for my life 


4/2/05