It’s been over two years since I’ve posted on here. I don’t really have a reason why other than life. It’s kind of what happens when you’re busy doing other things. However, I feel it in my spirit to share more about a new revelation.

That revelation is about the man upstairs and the misconceptions we have towards him, we may not realize. Let’s explore what on Earth it is I’m trying to talk about.

Sunday School

If you’re any bit of Anglo-Saxon or middle class like me, your upbringing probably consisted of Sunday school. It was that one dreaded day of the week when you had to wear these uncomfortable clothes and dress “nice.”

When you got to class, you’d have to pray and listen to old historical stories about how great this guy named Jesus was. Maybe you didn’t even pray; you just nodded and said “amen” so you didn’t look weird to the rest of the group.

You didn’t enjoy any of this. Who can blame you?

What exactly were you being taught here?

Well, you were being taught how to present yourselves to others. Others’ perceptions of you mattered to your family. Their standing within their communities was measured in social events like this church.

This is because our older generation, the Baptists, the Methodists, I’m calling them all out, never had a relationship with the Father and the holy spirit. This is no fault of their own; it’s part of a conditioning we’ve all been wired to have.

Well, you might say, they went to church? How do they not have a relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit?

Thus, my revelation begins. I’ll tell you, and it’ll probably shock you like it did me.

A Father And Son

Growing up, no matter what it was, we all wanted that seal of approval from our father. It could be winning some golf match for school, getting good grades, and many other examples. Hearing that “good job” and hanging out with Dad was all that mattered.

In doing this, we were building that deeper connection with our fathers. By basking in a small victory like this or even being able to have extra time with him, we were getting to know our Dad.

The church fails to teach us that Jesus is our heavenly father. He doesn’t want us to show up once a week and pray to him when we need something. Jesus, like an impossibly amazing father, wants us to get to know him and build a relationship with him.

His love for humanity spans beyond the measures we could have. As a believer, the only thing required from you is to build that relationship with him. However, he also gives us free will.

His relationship is not forced; it’s to be sought. Thus, the path to Jesus isn’t always clear. It can be skewed by attendance at church, habitual routines, prayers without worship, and the list goes on.

But I believe in God and Jesus. I have my whole life, you might say. What exactly are you getting at?

Let’s go deeper.

What is a Relationship With Jesus?

I’m a big proponent of what you do behind closed doors, is who you are, and best represents your interests. Even Jesus said in Matthew 6:6 the following:

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.“

We can gather a few things here.

Having a relationship with Jesus is not about your public works. It’s not about how many people have enrolled in your after-school church program. It’s not about the “feeling the presence of the Spirit” in that amazing sermon last Sunday.

The Holy Spirit is omnipotent; he’s in any place or space of matter at any time. Your after-school church program does not belong to you; it’s to advance the lord’s will. Not to give you a space to play basketball or kickball.

Having a relationship with Jesus is what you do behind closed doors. Having a relationship with Jesus looks like:

  • Rewatching video sermons from home during a break
  • Reading the Bible and meditating on the message being brought to you
  • Praising and worshipping the lord, not complaining about your problems
  • Conducting your life as Jesus did (it’s only outlined for us in the New Testament)

As believers, we must do these things daily. It may come as a surprise; I would be pretty surprised if not because it was certainly not taught to me in Sunday school or my parents, for that matter.

All of it boils down to one thing—the heart. Jesus wants to capture our hearts, not forcefully, due to our free will. But the only way we can let him in is to truly surrender our mortal desires of the flesh.

When you do that, you come to him without an agenda, just like the son in our Sunday school story; that’s when you build a relationship with him. You’ll probably read this if you’re stubborn like me, and it’ll click for a day or two. Do not worry; you’re never not permitted into the kingdom.

You just merely need to knock on the door.