What do you see, feel, and think when you hear the word "deep" used to describe a relationship with God?
Do you see a Bible study or a small group? Maybe a theological text book? A verse? A worship experience?
Do you feel a sense of profundity? Is it an intellectual feeling? Or mystery? A state of inner peace or satisfaction? A desire to go deeper than you are? Perhaps some sort of dissatisfaction with the way things are currently?
Do you think about a spiritual discipline? A command or a principle? A moral way of living? A higher calling? An ideal way of living? Perhaps a time or a season in your life when you felt that you went "deep?"
I'd love it if you'd take some time to share what you see, feel, and think when you hear the word "deep."
And then, if you would, at the end of your comments, take a stab at prayerfully answering this question:
"If you asked Jesus to recount a time that he went deep with God, which story from the Gospels do you think he'd tell you first? Why?"
When I think of deep, I think of getting beneath the surface. Deep worship connotes more than just singing a song, but connecting the words to my soul, and feeling a sense of gratitude for forgiveness, shame for my sin, or awe of my creator.
ReplyDeleteA deep relationship with Jesus instantly makes me think of obedience to Him. Jesus said "If you love me, you will obey my commands." As my wife pointed out, the great commission doesn't end with "Go and make disciples," it ends with "teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you." Going deeper with God means a fresh understanding of how His commands apply to my life. Yes, I receive his grace and mercy daily, because I will always fall short. But the more I understand the sacrifice he made for me on the cross, the more I want to express my gratitude through obedience. But what does that really look like?
For me, its a daily struggle with my words. Does what I say build others up, or do my wisecracks undermine their authority? Must I really curse to emphasise a point? Do I have to talk like everyone else does to influence them, or do I influence them by guarding my speech, and not looking down my nose at those who don't? Can I really influence anyone if I'm not going deeper with God? Is God's power unleashed on the world by blending in, or by standing out? I can't isolate myself from the world if I want to influence them, so I need to be in proximity and engaged with the lost. But what about my life will cause them to stop and think that maybe there is another way- the Only Way?
I would submit that the only way to Love God, Love People, and Influence the World is to be going deeper with God, and be continually transormed by Him.
going deeper is emptying and removing more and more of what is me and my will, and giving Him more and more room to fill me. Jesus would tell me of His time in the Garden before the crucifixtion, at least i would sure ask Him about this time. the internalization and the complete yeilding to the Fathers Plan. I struggle giving up to little plans God has for me and none of them have even caused much discomfort. To go so deep there is nothing but the Fathers plan. I would want Jesus to tell me about that.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of "deep", I think of Kevin Korver, pastor at Third Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. Specifically I think of his eyes. When you look in his eyes, you can feel the compassion and the love of Jesus. When you are around him, you can feel the presence of Jesus. That is a man who KNOWS Jesus and who spends a lot of time reading, praying and fasting. A man of God in the truest sense of the phrase.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of Jesus going deeper, I think of the numerous times where He went out by himself to pray. To be "deep", I believe, is to KNOW God.
chris john
You obviously don't know Kevin Korver very well.
Deletefindingellen.wordpress.com
Excellent thoughts, folks! Pressing on to KNOW God while walking through DEEP waters--I agree that Jesus' deepest time may certainly have been in the Garden before his arrest--what deep, agonizing pain He must have felt, knowing what was about to happen to Him. I want to know God DEEPLY through the hard times AND through the easier ones. :) Bev
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