Super vs Superficial

A quick note about the picture and it’s tie-in to today’s Word. Did you know that Superman isn’t “Super” at all on his home planet of Krypton?
No flying, no strength, no laser eyes. That’s why I’ve always had a deeper appreciation for the Superman logo. Superman wouldn’t be ‘super’ if it wasn’t for what his father did for him...And what did his father do? I’m glad you asked. He exposed him to the yellow Sun of earth, which gives him his powers. So when I wear my 'Superman' t-shirts, I’m not paying homage to the DC character, I’m reflecting on what Our Father did for us in giving us The Son and with Him, The Spirit's power. In particularly:

John 1: 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

But this isn't about The S, it's about our relationship with God.

Ask the average person about their relationship with God and odds are, you’ll get an answer conveying the idea that even if they don’t believe their holding up their end as well as they could/should, it’s still a good, solid relationship. Most won’t give you the answers you'd likely get if you asked about personal relationships.

Expectation is a word that most people try to avoid when it comes to relationships, mainly because they tie the word to unreasonable extremes. But be very sure that the word ‘relationship’ is synonymous with expectations. They just need to be reasonable and clearly communicated: fidelity, compassion, and sincere investment are reasonable expectations in a committed relationship.
Be sure you’re sure – there are many people in frustrated relationships and although it seems like an answer most women would give, I wouldn’t doubt that it’s a feeling that’s also very familiar with men as well. They’ll say “Well, I don’t know where this relationship is going and I don’t know if he/she REALLY loves me”

It’s a very real possibility that our relationship partners are not as IN the relationship as we are and even though this person can do nice things for us, it doesn’t replace that comfort of knowing that the relationship is solid.
This makes me wonder – because so many people in social media want to pay lip service to God as if their relationship is solid when in actuality, there is nothing being expressed other than God’s common grace that shouldn’t be misconstrued as a solid relationship.

Here’s The Word:

Isaiah 58:3 ‘Why have we fasted, and you see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?
(GOD's Answer)
’Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?
(He then gives the right reasons - the expectation)
“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
(He then shows how the benefits of the relationship will be manifested)
Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Yeah, it’s kind’ve long, but you see where God’s people were confused about their relationship with Him. God wasn’t meeting their expectations. They did what they wanted to do; paying lip-service and giving superficial involvement and were left wondering why their lives weren’t blessed. God’s answer – You know my expectations and you’re doing your own thing. You want to show off while I expect humility. You want to exact revenge when I said “I would repay” – How can you expect me to bless this relationship?

One of the most dangerous places a person can be is thinking that God approves of their action when He doesn’t. God causes the sun to shine on the wicked as well as the righteous and he sends rain on all.
It’s unfathomably precarious to interpret rain on your crops as the significant evidence that you must be IN with God. His common grace does that for people who will not enjoy eternal paradise.

Matthew 5:45 for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust

There’s a difference between getting a blessing and BEING blessed. God says that if you draw near to Him, that He would draw near to you (James 4:8). Reasonable expectations that have a very different outcome than superficial involvement.
The choice is yours: Do you want the heart change, or just to wear a chain with a cross on it? Do you want your prayers to impress people, or move Heaven? Do you want intimacy or an empty imitation? Do you want super or superficial?

In Him,
Cros