Master Manipulator or Usher?

John 16:26-27 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request of the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from the Father. 

In John 15-17 we read the best good bye speech ever.   These are the profound words of Jesus delivered before He sets off on His final mission:  to die for the sins of the world; to make all things new.

Tucked inside we find this gem of a viewpoint.  Jesus is telling us to make our requests to the Father in His name.  It is through our love of Jesus that we have access to the Father.  But Jesus makes it perfectly clear, He is not making our requests for us.  Jesus gave us access, for the purpose of talking to the Father ourselves!  He came to create the Way to the Father!  The Father loves us!  The Father sent the Son to create the path, the opening, by removing the barrier from availability.  Father God is not angry with mankind.  He is extremely glad He got us back!  

As a child, when one of us wanted to do something, we'd gather the siblings as a group.  Conspiring together we had more power in our conviction, and hope of the vision's success would mount!  Finally the 'favorite child' was promoted to spokesperson.  This 'favorite child' may vary, as did the degree of good standing we had at the moment.  Their job was to win our request by manipulating the parents.  Sending the baby of the family was a dead give away.  The message would return, via the youngest,  "If you want something, come and ask for yourselves." 

I feel like Jesus is telling us, we don't need to assign Him the task of Master Manipulator.  I think He is actually refusing that role, because it would deprive us of the ultimate purpose of his sacrifice:  restoration to favorite statue with the Father.  We are all God's favorites!  We all have access to the throne of grace.  Hebrews 4:16 says, "Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  

Confidence in our relationship with Father God comes from the grace of undeserved love.  Grateful love in return is all the Father longs to see.  Loving desire to consider His Presence as He is always watching His favorites, the way a parent adores their child with great contented sighs.  Under the Ten Commandments our love was defined by laws.  We needed a law to describe what proves to be birthed naturally after receiving God's love.  Loving because of a law is obligatory.  Loving on account of sacrifice is gratuitous. I John 4:18-19 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us."
Jesus opened the door to the Father's throne room, He ushers us down the aisle, and right before you kneel He whispers in your ear, "Talk to Him yourself!" We can, with confidence from fearless love!

Many a beautiful woman's heart is won by nerdy dweeb who simply voices sincere recognition of her worth.  Jesus is the Bridegroom. Individually chosen, we  collectively are His bride.  Father God approved the match!  He happily receives us as family.  I love my daughter-in-law!  She is my son's true companion.  I love the unity in their relationship.  I loved her before I ever met her, because my son did!  When I met her and saw the loyalty she had for my son, it sealed my love toward her forever.  She is cherry to me!  I want her be secure in my acceptance, as a good mother-in-law should!  I think God's love toward Christ's Bride, which Father helped pick out, is much the same.  We are family!  Father God loves His Girl!  
  
I feel like this is core to the misunderstanding in and about Christianity today.  There is confusion within the believer which gets passed on to the observing world.  Hence God is still perceived as "ANGRY"!  Repentance from fear of Hell and judgement is legitimate, but unless you see the love of God behind it, you always feel your performance 'proves' as in justifies your redemption, rather than it 'proves' as the fruit indicates the type of seed which was planted.

I grew up hearing Hal David's song, "What the World Needs Now Is Love," which is a prayer to the Lord asking for His love toward mankind to individually be manifested to everyone.  As a teacher, I had to learn, if my students were failing to get the message, I was failing as a teacher.  I needed to correct my presentation.  And not everyone processes information the same way, so I have to morph my lessons to reach them all.  No percentage of failure is acceptable.  I want my entire class to pass.  Oh, yeah, and you can't teach something you don't understand!  What the world needs is the love of God, not a conception, but an experience in His Presence.  Our commission is to make disciples.  The how is by hosting God's Presence, which reproduces sincere love, which in turn, draws humanity to the way, Jesus.

I reared my oldest children listening to Hosanna Music.  Gerrit Gustafson wrote "Teach Me Your Ways", performed by Robert Gay from the Victor's Crown album.  The lyrics are also a prayer.

Teach Me Your Ways

If I have found favor 

In your eyes

Teach me your ways 

Teach me your ways 

That I may be pleasing  

In your sight 

Teach me your ways 

Teach me your ways

And if you have 

Called me by my name

Teach me your ways 

Teach me your ways 

And O, let your 

Presence ever remain 

Teach me your ways

Teach me your ways.

I want to know you, Lord

I want to see 

Your glory and grace 

And may your presence 

Go with us 

All of our days 

O Lord, teach me your ways 

O Lord, teach me your ways

.

"You've come a long way, Baby!"

Enjoying a lazy Saturday afternoon, Gwenn watched an old "I Love Lucy" episode.  As I worked cleaning treasures found in my mother-in-laws estate, I listened to the classic comedy.  Lucille Ball was hilarious in timeless fashion, goofy upstaging Desi Arnez's character, husband Ricky.  In the last 2 minute segment we witnessed Lucy apologizing to Ricky, because she was offered the job for which Ricky was auditioning.  I listened to Ricky tell Lucy he wanted her, "at home, cleaning house, cooking his meals and having babies".  Lucy responds submissively; she will stay at home, where she belongs, cooking, cleaning, but she stops short of promising babies!  This was 1950's American core values!

You have come a long way, Baby!  Or have you?  As I watch certain reality shows I feel like woman are selling themselves short.  To see a pack of woman vie for a man or 'super star' is appalling!  The high ratings on these shows which usher in more like programing is alarming.  I watch the spectacle wondering if a generation of women who have walked into a degree of equality which previous generations contended and fought to achieve, are giving up ground.  Like our responsibilities of citizenship, we need to keep moving forward, owning our place in this democratic society, and stewarding our freedoms.  What does taking our gender seriously really look like?  Am I taking issue with a merely base gender appropriate recreational viewing?  Is 'women pandering for "love"' the equivalent to "men fighting in a cage?"  Do we entitle ourselves to socially degrading self-indulgences we justify as "Blessings of Liberty? 

The battle for equality for women in the society is still in progress.  As a mom, I encourage my daughter to value herself, aim high, remember to be giving and kind.  I recite to her the freedoms and equality she has now, that her grandmother didn't have.  It may sound like a recording of 'Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen', but I want her to realize the ball is in her possession now.  Take advantage of the ground gained, and plow ahead!  By setting standards for herself,  she will contribute to a better world.  With our liberties, while pursuing our own happiness, let's also promote the general welfare.

Society doesn't watch gladiators kill each other for entertainment anymore.  Or should I say yet?  Reality shows which feature putting yourself in harms way for entertainment lead us on the slippery slope to a digital Colosseum.

Perhaps I am just over sensitive to the idea of "staying at home, where she belongs."  I was delivered from an religious viewpoint that judged and sentenced a woman by a 50's mindset determined to be "Godly".  Anything that reduces a woman to getting her worth and identity from a man, other than Jesus, just angers me!  I have been married for 34 years.  It took me almost 20 years to discover my identity in Christ which set me free to become a decent partner to my husband.  I get my value and worth from God the Father who choose to sacrifice His only begotten Son.  Jesus died so I could be restored in relationship to Father God.  I am very valuable!  The peace from a cherished identity as a Child of God, equips me for all my relationships. Like a precursory jump on the springboard before the vaulting horse, I am propelled into the day ready to share all the love I've received with whoever I touch.  God's love appropriated in my life is the prescriptive lens in my glasses I put on before I begin my daily activities.  Without my glasses on, life is more difficult, challenging, and straining.  It doesn't feel right.  

I aspire to empower my daughter to sustain a gigantic life.  I share my convictions and experiences, intending to bestow her with discernment for ruminating her own conclusions.  I assure Gwenn that she will make sensible decisions on life's quest .  But when I descry something resembling poison ivy on the path, a spotlight of caution I will wield, even when she replies, "I know, I know!"  It's my choice.