One of the dramas my children often have with other children is how they address me. While some emphasize the ‘pastor’ part, my children would always tilt towards the ‘daddy’ part and would even argue with people who call me ‘pastor’ and not ‘daddy’. I do my best to help them clarify that Daddy is Pastor and that Pastor is also Daddy.
Friend, you must learn to relate with God properly if you would get the best of who He is and what He offers per time. Actually, in every relationship you find yourself, you must know what side it is that you are dealing with per time. As a wife, there is a time your husband is not just your husband but your pastor and priest. If your Dad employs you in his company, you would have to know how to switch roles in relating with him as a boss at work and as a father at home.
Discerning relationship roles per time is a critical wisdom for effortless journey in destiny; muddling up this has caused shipwreck in many people’s life (Matthew 16:13-18). The pastor of a Church is a husband to someone, father to some (his children), younger or elder brother to his siblings, son to his father and mother. The Pastor needs to know this and those to whom he is in relationship also need to understand the shift of roles.
Three are about three positions that God can take in the life of the believer per time and each of them has its rules of engagement. These are the position of a Judge, a Father and a Friend. In relating as a Father, the covenant is the rule of engagement (Isaiah 49:15-16, John 3:35). As a Judge, it is principles, while as a Friend, it is intimacy (Luke 18:1-8, John 15:15). You need to know how to unlock the blessings in these different dimensions.
If you are born again, there is nothing you can do that would make God disown you as His son or daughter; you are joined to Him by covenant. This is the highest and strongest of all the relationships we have with God; this is the whole essence of Jesus’ death and resurrection (John 1:12, Hebrews 2:10). If you don’t get this, you would be running away from someone you should be running towards (Luke 15:17-20).
“…for you have magnified your word above all your name (Psalms 138:2). There are times that it is following the principles of God that would unlock the blessings. This is where we say that God does not respond to emotions but to faith in His word. Yes, He is your Father and Friend but He won’t bend the rules for you at this point. He would require your faith, your diligence, your persistence and the likes (Luke 18:1-8).
© ‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria