I am continuing my series Confessions of A Bed-Side Baptist and sharing precious gems that I’m picking up in my “meadow” journey. You may be befuddled and may need to read the one of the two blogs about why I had left my recent church and I haven’t joined another congregation since.
It has nothing to do with church hurt! It has everything to do with what Jesus asked of me. I could have chosen between a brittle, dull and lifeless relationship with Jesus (the hallway dream) ooorrrr a solid, vibrant and Spirit-led relationship (my meadow dream). No brainer! I chose the latter.
Through my journey, I am giving you a few tips and secrets about how and why my relationship with Jesus flourishes. So welcome if this is your first return! Or if you’re a returner, get your Mase on and welcome back!
In my first release of the series, I discuss the mandated obligation to adjust of how “church” is done amongst corporate churches accompanied by addressing the issue big “c” churches over-emphasize people being IN a church or OF a congregation and not Jesus. NOW, big “c” churches are great when the leadership is 100% yielded unto the Lord. But it is not the end all or be all! Your focus should be dialed in on the ONLY Counselor.
Prophet Isaiah comes with high regard in chapter 2, verse 22, ““You should stop trusting in people to save you, because people are only human; they aren’t able to help you.” (NCV)
It’s so true that Jesus reinstates the importance of having your own supplications regarding your relationship with Him in Matthew 25:1-13. “That is the reason you should always stay awake and be alert, because you don’t know the day or hour when the Bridegroom will appear.”” (25:13 TPT)
PSA: Be on the look for devotionals to drop and IG Live Bible Study to return!
Always consider the following:
Be planted and committed to Jesus—not man. One is firm. The other is fickle.
Be connected with great, genuine and accountable community that supports your zealous pursuit of Jesus. (Don’t be quick to judge who will or won’t.)
Before joining a congregation, OK your decision with God in detailed prayer. He cares about your relationship with Him and wants to trust the leadership with His son or daughter.
Notice, I am not saying, “don’t join”. No, I am giving you accelerated wisdom based on my experience that is Biblically supported.
Recently, I touch on Abraham by sharing the revelation of his response Here I am before complying to sacrifice his first born. (Yeah. God be wildin’ sometimes.) I distinguish consecration v. concentration, too.
Finally, I left you all with a few hypotheticals for you all to actually consider. My personal favorite question was along the lines of “What would your life look if you feel irrevocably, passionately, *cues music* dangerously in love with Jesus?” (Personal shoutout to Mrs. Duncan, K. Natae and other fans of B. Knowles-Carter.)
A few nights ago, I was preparing to go bed. Out of nowhere, I felt the lulling pull of Jesus calling me into an intimate, private sector of quality time before going to sleep. And my heart responded immediately! Jesus initiated that yearning for that specific moment with me. (I was on Instagram laughing at colleagues stories.) Then my stomach started catching all of the flutters and I started to blush. There’s only one human being’s presence who could activate those feelings whenever he was around. (Y’all might remember their premier in my very first blog.)
But I felt the desire to look up the word intimacy.
Intimacy (n): close familiarity or friendship; closeness; a private cozy atmosphere (per Google and Webster.)
Then I wanted to look up familiarity.
Familiarity (n): close acquaintance with or knowledge of something; the quality of being well known; recognizability based on long or close association; relaxed friendliness or intimacy between people (per Google and Webster.)
Then I just stopped.
So I started to play David and Nicole Binion’s Alabaster Box Medley said to myself, I’m going to write Jesus a love-note—through the reference of those definitions.
My sweet Bridegroom Jesus,
As I meditate on the words of Your beautiful script, I feel your beckon and summon to draw me into a place of intimacy with You. A private cozy atmosphere where I experience Your closeness. Where I’m close and of familiarity with You to strengthen our friendship. I’m acquainted with You and I know Your presence. Easily, I am able to recognize Your promptings and desires of simply wanting me to spend time with me. When I was younger, I was able to detect where and Who you were to me as early as 5 years old. (It’s something special about me being 5, Lord.) We are of close association. There’s an undeniable and unwavering relaxed friendliness I have with You. It’s beyond a feeling; it’s a knowing. There is intimacy between You and I. Jesus, I love You. Thank You for keeping me.
Lovingly,
Your becoming, gentle and dearest darling, Ebony
Some people will find that weird and I will say they’re accomplices of Satan. 🤷🏻♀️ I said what I said. Don’t judge someone’s walk when you have no idea the cost of my oil in my alabaster box or someone else’. Cus Jesus will put you on QT with a quickness (Luke 7:45-46) and my pre-Cephas will make an appearance (guaranteed to happen). (Little Bible scholarly jokey joke but I’m also serious.)
Moving forward...
But this level of intimacy can be located in one of my favorite books of the Bible which is Song of Songs or Songs of Solomon. It can be about two legit lovers but until my future husband stop playing and wake up from his deep slumber of knowing I’m his wife, I’m going to use Jesus. And I prefer the Passion Translation (TPT) or Message (MSG). Note: Diction and syntax will become very important in your relationship with Jesus as you get to know Him.
But the scriptures (all in TPT) we’ll be paying attention to are:
John 14:15;
Psalm 15:1-2 and;
Psalm 27:4-8
(The Passion Translation keeps my fiery passion for Jesus to remain ignited. Hopefully one day, I’ll receive an endorsement or free books. 👀)
A gentle reminder I want to extend to many is: as you journey with the Lord, be gracious with yourself and others.
In this time, I’m getting tired of people saying, “yOu bEtTeR pIcK uP tHe BiBlE aNd BeLiEvE wHaT yOu ReAd”
with a whole bunch of other hooplah. Man, woman, whoever... you know it took you some time to get to that point so don’t do that! Check your compassion department! Mmkay.
Your relationship with Jesus is an adventure and you should be gracious to yourself. It’s an adventure. It’s a journey. It’s a legit story. Enjoy the turning of pages of new elements. The end is already written. You just have to walk in it.
But I will say the following:
Please understand you will never want to obey God unless you’re encountering, receiving and/or reciprocating His agape love (John 3:16, Isaiah 52:13-53; 1 John 4:16) for yourself!
You’ll never experience or be able to testify the never ending magnitude of His glory, mercy and grace (Ephesians 3:18-19; Hebrews 6:9-12). You also won’t develop His character (Galatians 5:22-23).
You’ll never understand what it means to have fearless faith, to be fearless in your faith, to be bold in stature and, altogether, to never leave His all encompassing presence. (Exodus 40:34-35; 2 Samuel 22; Romans 8:38-39)
But you must experience the love for yourself. Me and the next agape-filled Christ ambassador could tell you about it til the Life leaves us. And the beauty and Truth about it all is the Almighty wants to have a relationship with you despite your sin. The cost is high but I promise you... it’ll transfigure your entire life for the better.
Until next time.
Lovingly,
Ebony M. Acton🌸
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