I had another paradigm shift in thinking this morning–obedience is secondary to relationship!  This is actually not a new thought to me but one that is being driven home more and more these days.  It’s not about what you do or what you know–it’s about WHO you know.  Remember the verse in the Bible where someone comes up to Jesus at His return and says, “I did this and that…in your name,”  and He says to them, “I never knew you, go away.”? (Revised by Kara)

Relax, connect.

I thought of that this morning when I read this.

Sometimes there is nothing to obey and our only task is to maintain a vital connection with Jesus Christ, seeing that nothing interferes with it.  Only occasionally is it a matter of obedience…most of our life is not spent in trying to be consciously obedient, but in maintaining this relationship–being the “friend of the bridegroom.”  Christian work can actually be a means of diverting a person’s focus away from Jesus Christ.  Instead of being friends “of the bridegroom,” we may become amateur providences of God to someone else, working against Him while we use His weapons.

Now that’s a pretty sobering thought.  So . . . I’m discovering that ultimately, my calling is to KNOW Jesus, the rest will come as He directs.  (Probably on a more subconscious level–we may not even know we’re doing God’s work.)