Is God is a Genie in a Bottle Ready to Fulfill Wishes?

How do we define a loving relationship? Some believe God is a Genie in a bottle ready to fulfill our wishes.

Health and wealth are not available on demand. The Christian walk is not a formula of saying the right things; rubbing the magic lamp in the right way to order a perfect life.

Some assume if we walk God’s ways our life will be blessed, pleasant, devoid of trials. They think the key to Christian living is to separate ourselves from the world, behave in certain ways, and avoid certain things. This type of performance-based spirituality can be rooted in pride.

Last night, I watched the documentary William Tyndale (translator who made the English Bible available, considered Father of the Reformation). He was burnt at the stake as a heretic. This is not first thing that comes to my mind when I think of a blessed life.

Not All Peaches and Cream

Following Christ does not mean a life filled with pleasant experiences and good feelings. We walk a narrow way often full of potholes and bumps. We can be treated wrongly, suffer diseases, ugly emotions, stress, early death, and consequences of sin.

The real blessings we receive from a relationship with God is shalom– peace. Not the peace the world gives (John 14:27). God gives us an inner peace because of our living relationship with Him.

According to Strong’s Concordance 7965 Shalom means completeness, wholeness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.

His Fruit is Sweet to My Taste

Solomon compares a loving relationship to a delightful treat of a surprise apple tree in the forest.

Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest…
I delight to sit in his shade,
and his fruit is sweet to my taste. (Song 2:3).

The word taste expressed a knowledge of someone through intimate personal experience “Taste and see that the Lord is good” Ps. 34:8. God’s Word is sweeter than honey. (Ps 119:103).

I delight to sit in his shade.

Christ is our shadow where we can rest in any circumstance. When we are torn up with sin and exhausted with difficulties, we find peace in our relationship with Him. Those that are weary and heavily laden may find rest in Christ, in relationship not performance. The true blessings are remission of sins, faith, grace, and assurance of glory.

Eat His Word and enjoy the taste (not as a ritual to-do thing to check off your list). Read to fill your hungry hearts and grow in Him.