How good are you at expressing terms of endearment in your spiritual life? We are probably enabled or handicapped by our natural expression to other humans. Was your natural father aloof or approachable? Was your natural father quick to express terms of endearment to you or did he merely receive yours?
Some people have an easy time expressing their most tender thoughts to God while others view God as so high and majestic that He must be spoken to in terms of awe and high respect. I am sure it was a surprise when Jesus spoke of God as “abba” (our equivalent is “da-da”) No one had ever spoken that endearingly of the Heavenly Father.
I am looking for a comfortable but reverential expression of worship for God that lies between the trite familiarity of “the man upstairs” and the “Unmoved Mover”. Somewhere between the view that God takes our breath away and leaves us prostrate on our faces and the overly folksy Hollywood starlet saying that God is a “teddy bear”, people stand in an intimate relationship with God.
When Jesus was transfigured (changed in form) on the mountain in the sight of the disciples they were all struck dumb but not so much that Peter couldn’t suggest “let’s build three tents and all stay here together for a while.” (Matthew 17:4)
If we could picture ourselves (as the Bible describes) like first century children climbing on the knees of Jesus, terms of endearment might flow more easily. Sometimes Christians sing about wanting “just a closer walk with Jesus” that really sounds like being on more intimate terms with the Almighty God.
The Biblical picture in Genesis 3:8 of God walking in the Garden of Eden in the cool of the day projects a sweet fellowship between God and Adam and Eve. Sad to say, sin takes away the endearing relationship and replaces it with fear. What a loss!
“Give us a freedom, Dear Father, to be totally transparent with You in
expressing both our awe and our love. We long for intimacy! Amen”
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