Most everyone acknowledges that God is the “Eternal Spirit.” Scripture describes Him as omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, and invisible. In other words, the Spirit of God is always present, all-powerful, all-knowing, and is not contained by natural forms. With such unnatural characteristics, God can appear to be unrelatable. Yet, just the opposite is true – the Eternal is very relational!
A deposit of God’s Spirit is in every person, usually referred to as the ‘spirit of life’. When our spirit – breath of life departs, “our body returns to dust and our spirit returns to God.” (a) [see endnotes for NASB Scriptures] All humans are offspring of God even if they do not worship like us. (b) Since a deposit of the Eternal is within everyone, we all have the ability to communicate and relate to Him. So, how should we relate to God?
Perceptions of God
Everyone is born into this life to live in the “image and likeness” of God. (c) We are all designed to “reflect His image as a mirror” and “resemble His likeness, as a child.” Considering we are extensions of God, how well do we understand and relate to our Eternal Father?
Our misguided perception of God began developing in the Garden of Eden when our first parents chose to ignore Him. It formed a fear of punishment. This perception has haunted mankind ever since. We still fear an angry God ready to harm us if we do not step in line. Our perception of God’s temperament and motives affect how we reflect and resemble Him. The harsh idea has produced many tyrannical kings and overlords.
Despite our perceptions, Scripture is clear about God’s core nature: “God is light…God is love.” (d) Consequently, His actions and expressions are enlightening and loving, void of any dark perceptions like disdain, hatred and contempt. (e) The Eternal One “is not like men” (f) who shifts between the “productive and destructive” activity of “good and evil.”
The Eternal One is long-suffering, forgiving, and lovingly dedicated to the maturing growth of all His offspring. Scripture tells us: “For neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (g) His love is enduring and inexhaustible!
The Apostle Paul amplified how God’s love for us endures even through our lack of response: “What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.” (h) God is not impatient or condemning as if our lack of response could affect His enduring love, for “nothing can separate us from His love.” (i) The Eternal One remains the same. He invites us to interact with Him and become more like His heart during this life!
The Eternal remains the same.
God’s Expressive Qualities
The character, attitude and personality (CAP) traits that we believe are in God, influence who we are and the person we become. What we think of God, right or wrong, inspires the way we live.
Scripture describes God’s expressive CAP qualities as spiritual fruit: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (j)
The fruits of God’s Spirit identify the type and quality of expressions that originate in and come from the Eternal One. These attributes convey and demonstrate His enduring attitude toward us. Are we perceiving and putting “on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other”? (k) Do we personally “walk by the Spirit” and display such attitudes?
Are these spiritual qualities in our words and the tone of our expressions? We can ignore God and live as a Prodigal and waste what our Eternal Father has given us. We can even experience our Father’s dwelling among us and still miss the mark by not understanding His loving heart toward all of His offspring. (l)
On the other hand we can be more responsive 
to His guidance and live as beloved and cherished children. (m) God-in-Christ promises to “never desert…nor will I ever forsake you.” (n) While we can ignore His presence He remains steadfast and reliable. His loving support still abides with us.
We are given guidelines for sharing this Good News about God and the quality of life He offers. One of the last instructions Jesus gave his followers is called The Great Commission. In the directive, Jesus said: “Go and disciple all nations, baptizing them into the name (identity) of God-in-Christ.” (o) The Greek word translated ‘disciple’ means: to learn, become attached to, and to follow.
The word ‘baptize’ means “covering immersion” so good absorption occurs. More than a one-time event, we are to be immersing ourselves and others in God’s presence often, so we absorb and become better expressions of the CAP of God.
While we can walk away, God’s presence remains steadfast and reliable.
Building Up Faith
We want to be so close and interactive with our Eternal Father that our attitude resembles His and attracts others into this way of life. Paul encourages us to follow God-in-Christ just as he did: “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” (p) Here are a few of the many times Paul instructs us to encourage, strengthen and build-up one another’s faith in God and our faithful response to Him.
- “Let all things be done for edification (building up).” (q)
- “Comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” (r)
- “Strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble.” (s)
- “Encourage one another and build up one another…encourage the fainthearted.” (t)
- “Pursue… the building up of one another.” (u)
- “You also are being built together into a dwelling of God.” (v)
So, how do we encourage, strengthen and build-up one another’s faith? We personally pursue the presence of God, so our words and lives are examples of the Good News that God is a loving forgiver. Everyone can accept Him into their life experience, arise from slumber, and learn to live as maturing expressions of God.
To clarify: we encourage one another to have faith in God, we strengthen each other by lovingly supporting their faith and we build up each other by adding to and fortifying one another’s faithful response.
Scripture defines faith as: “The assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (w) In other words, faith comes as we tune into what the unseen is saying and desiring to do, with a confident agreement! This is why Scripture says “Faith comes from hearing…the word of Christ” (x) and “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (y) How well are we listening, hearing, and walking in step with God’s guidance?
We can best relate to God by interacting with His presence and heeding His guidance. Then our conversations are less argumentative and become more encouraging discussions. It is during these types of interactions the enlightening presence of Jesus tends to appear in our midst. (z)
Our illustrations of God’s loving light enables our families to experience more forgiving love and live in more peaceful security. Even our businesses tend to thrive because of Christ-like leadership.
How can we build up the faith of our family members, friends and foes this week? Be encouraged, step out in faith and see how God uses you in your moments.
How well are we listening, hearing, and walking in step with God’s guidance?
a) Ecclesiastics 12:7; b) Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:22-29; c) Genesis 1:26; d) 1 John 1:5; 4:16; e) 1 John 1:5; f) Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; g) Romans 8:39; h) Romans 3:3-4; i) Romans 8:35-39; j) Galatians 5:22-23; k) Colossians 3:12-13; l) Luke 15:11-32; m) John 1:12; 12:36; Romans 8:14; n) Hebrews 13:5; o) Matthew 28:19; p) 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 4:9; q) 1 Corinthians 14:26; r) 2 Thessalonians 2:17; s) Hebrews 12:12; t) 1Thessalonians 5:11, 14; u) Romans 14:19; v) Ephesians 2:20-22; w) Hebrews 11:1; x) Romans 10:17; y) Hebrews 11:6; z) Matthew 18:20; Luke 24:14-15
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
Created To Relate author