In the lush green plains of
relationships, two great peaks reach skyward casting a permanent shadow on the
valley between them. On the lesser peak stands planted a flag reading "Friendship."
Across from it, on a clear day, bursting through cloud nine can be seen another
flag which reads "Romance."
Between the two mountains, in that
dark and shady valley are the remains of unattained desires scattered about
like an elephant graveyard. In its center lies a mound of wants that could not
safely make it from one peak to the other. Atop this mound of insecurity,
disappointment and 'what-ifs' is planted another flag. Unlike the other flags
that boldly flap in the wind, this flag is tattered from the multi-directional
winds of the valley. It reads, "The Friend Zone!"
John 21:15 says: When they had
finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me
more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Commissioner Israel Gaither brought to
my attention that Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him using agape love, an unconditional love, but Peter responds using a philia love, a brotherly love. In other
words Jesus ask Peter, "Do you love me?" and Peter responds, "I like you a
lot..." planting Christ firmly in the friend zone.
Many of us entertain, even enjoy, a
friendship with Christ. We don't mind the occasional chat or benefit from the
relationship as if Jesus was that one friend in high school that was invited
out only because they had a car. As long as the friendship doesn't
inconvenience us, we will even hang out with Him for a bit on Sundays if it will
keep Him happy.
Commissioner Gaither said it best, "Jesus doesn’t want us to 'like' Him! He wants us to love Him!" Instead of
accepting a meaningful relationship with Christ and giving Him the prominent
office in our life, we have made Him the Prime Minister of Justafriendistan!
Liking Christ is nice, but loving Him is better! Having a good friendship with
Jesus is wonderful start, but He wants more from this relationship.
Will you allow the walls of fear and comfort to be torn down so that Christ can have all there is of you?
Newark Ironbound
This is such a great post. It convicts in its pose of evaluation of where each of us are in our relationship with Him. Just like that show, FriendZone, Jesus is there all the time but we don't receive all the benefits of a love relationship with Him while we are just friends - we limit, then, what we receive and with God that is always more than what we can give....Loving Jesus is so much better than liking Him! Thank you for sharing this - keep writing!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Darell! I needed that!
ReplyDeleteWonderful insight. You have a marvelous gift with expressing deep matters of the soul my friend. I would love to see some of these thoughts reflected in the facebook group: Salvationist Apologetics. Keep up the good work of the Kingdom brother!
ReplyDeleteThat was very inspiring!
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