Hello
Got Purpose? Is it a response or inspiration? Consider today’s Holy Nougat as you frame your answer.
“That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT
After all is said and done; the Teacher sums our purpose succinctly- we are created for relationship. But this seems to be undergirded by fear; which is not often the basis for healthy relationships. So why would a ‘loving’ Holy God insist on our operating and being obedient because we are afraid of negative consequences? It really does not quite compute.
I confess I often give scant regard to the vagaries of language. However, language matters. For, fear which is restricted to the intimidation of the other, weaker, less power-filled being can not be the way our God operates; even when we often frame our arguments for Christianity in this manner.
Let us consider instead, that the premise alludes to ‘awe’ or ‘reverence’, rather than fright. For, reverence includes respect based on positive interrelatedness which still makes for recognition of power differences. For, God desires first our love, which is already reciprocated to us in all we have been gifted; including our lives. This positive interrelatedness is what mobilizes obedience.
I have been stumbling into the understanding that fearful obedience inspires rebellion; but Love inspires a willingness to obey, even what seems impossible or impractical. Because this Love first loved me and loves me time and again even beyond my perceptions of self love. This Love deems me precious enough to a) bring me into fullness of life and b) die on my behalf so I might raise into eternal life with His glory. That too makes little sense to many; but is vital to my very existence. And so, that very Love invites awe, reverence, respect and relationship … Fear.
Mayhap, your reasoning for obedience and duty is different, but I urge us to consider our purpose as Love-inspired and not a Fear-response.
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
