Some of us lead transactional lives.
This is something that would be my go to. I’m very black and white and no grey. When I’m emailing or texting someone I have to remind myself to include pleasantries and say more than the question or statement needing to be made. My mind tends to be super on point and efficiency centered. I’m a “type one,” a “Martha” when I don’t consciously choose to put my focus and efforts toward the relationship rather than the task at hand.
Business/transactional relationships are easy. There is little expectation of more than the give and take in that moment and those expectations are cut and dry, very clear.
Personal relationships are messy and require so much more effort. They require consideration and thoughtfulness. They require operation of grace with the ebb and flow and each up and down. Suffering and rejoicing with one another is a must.
It’s important to remember that your RELATIONSHIP with Jesus is so much more than a transaction. Yes, in a transaction He traded you your sins for His salvation. He trades/transacts lots of things: ashes for beauty, sickness for health, poverty for prosperity, worry for peace, etc.
But…
There is so much more to Him and the relationship you have available than that! It doesn’t have to be you ask Him for something, receive the thing, thank Him and move on to the next. As a born again, saved and redeemed, renewed Christian you literally get to LIVE in His presence! You get to talk to Him and hear from Him. You GET to serve Him and find purpose and meaning in Him. You get to SHARE in EVERYTHING (sacrifice and reward) with Him as co-heirs.
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” Romans 8:17 NIV
Yes…
There are things like obedience and reverence and consequence. But that can’t be the basis and only side to your relationship with God.
He doesn’t have a big stick to hit you with, He has a big heart to LOVE you with.
When you truly realize that, your relationship will no longer simply be a transaction and then another. It will be a life of such deep love received and given that it leads to obedience and reverence that comes naturally. You will get to experience the fullness of God, the fullness of a real and personal RELATIONSHIP with Him. You can go to Him in times of trouble to receive His ever present help in time of need (Psalm 46:1) instead of feeling like you have to hide from Him for fear of His wrath on a “sinner like me.” Oh the freedom! It won’t feel like a transaction anymore.
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