There was a time in my life when the first place I would visit in any bookstore was the “Self Help” section. Later, when I worked in bookstores, I would joke with customers and tell them that I could show them where self help was, but after that they were on their own. Sorry ma’am, it’s self help, your first step towards wellness is finding the books by yourself. Of course, I’m kidding, but I think that if I ever said that, it would have been to someone who knew me and my sense of humor very well. Knowing what kind of relationship you have with people is important. You can let your hair down with friends and family and know you’ll be understood. But while it’s essential to have close healthy relationships with the people in our lives who matter most, the one we should be closest to often gets the leftovers. “God, when I have time I’ll sit down and it will be just you and me; I promise.” But our actions speak louder than anything we ever say.
So what kind of relationship are you cultivating with God? The bible says the church is the Bride of Christ.
Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Revelation 19:7-9
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
Ephesians 5:25-27
If we want that close and open relationship with Jesus, and want to know everything about Him, where do we start? The Word is the best place to go.
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8
We can trust that He wants the best for us and has great plans for our lives if we will submit and trust Him.
“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11
So how would you characterize your relationship with the Lord? Do you spend quality time getting to know each other or do you just occasionally throw Him a “like” on Facebook? Don’t get me wrong, I’m writing this for myself as much as for you. I do think it’s a good question to ask ourselves, though. Good relationships take effort.
I couldn’t help but note that I managed to get a “Lamb” into today’s post, albeit unintentionally. That makes three days in a row. Will there be one tomorrow?
Right on!
I couldn’t help but imagine this conversation happening between you and a customer in the bookstore –
Customer: Can you lead me to the self-help section?
Joel: No, I’m sorry, I can’t do that, ma’am.
Customer: (confused) But… why not?
Joel: Then I would be helping you and you are looking for self-help.
Customer: But can’t you just tell me where it is?
Joel: How about if I give you a hint, but put an obstacle in your way you have to overcome?
Customer: What?
Joel: Yes, like a Samson’s riddle. Are you ready?
Customer: (shaking her head) I… guess so.
Joel: But first you have to promise you can’t seduce me into giving away the riddle, like Delilah did.
Customer: What?
Joel: Forget it. I don’t trust you. Just go help yourself.
Heh, heh, heh.
That’s very funny. I’m one of those weird people who actually likes dealing with the public. I like serving people and making them smile. At the last bookstore I worked at, we all wore headsets to communicate with each other. I tried to keep it almost under control, but it was a lot of fun to make customers and co-workers laugh. I admire that pretend conversation you gave me very much. Early in my book selling career I was working at the register in a very small store. I had a long line of customers and one person was shopping the travel books next to the register. She turned around and asked me if we had any travel books for Georgia. Without missing a beat I said, “Not on my mind.”
I like that.