Seven-Day Practical Faith Blog: Presence, not Transaction

Every now and then, an author writes something that speaks directly to me (I hope I can do the same for you). This week's example comes from Cole Arthur Riley in her book, "This Here Flesh."

"We conflate these idols [of busy-ness and 'doing'] with God. We become obsessed with the language of how God might 'use' us, never pausing to ask ourselves, What if God doesn't always want to use you? What sometimes God just wants to be with you? We've become estranged from this idea. We would never articulate it as such, but undergirding much of our concept of calling is the belief that our primary relationship to God is anchored in transaction. God resists this."

I definitely can forget that my main interaction from God is supposed to come through relationship, not transaction. Then I remember a turning point in my life, when God indicated to me, "I don't want you to take up another project. I want your heart!"

But I'm guilty of slipping back into old habits. I need to recultivate being with God. Loving God. Giving God my whole heart.

That mistaken idea that "our primary relationship to God is anchored in transaction" is one that many of us need to reject. I mean, Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners. Jesus didn't die for me because I completed some achievement. Jesus died for me and for you because he loves us.

So, today, let us allow God to be with us. Ride in the car with us. Speak to us in the precious few moments of silence we allocate. Let us reject our transactional view of faith. Rely on Jesus's saving work, not our own. Let's get back to the basics of living a daily faith in God's presence.

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