Holy Invitations by Jeannette A. Bakke

Author:Jeannette A. Bakke [Bakke, Jeannette A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REL062000, spiritual direction
ISBN: 978-1-58558-260-0
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2012-07-02T00:00:00+00:00

Experience with God as Portrayed in Scripture

What does Scripture say about human experience and experiences with God? God created Adam and Eve and was with them in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3:8). God created humans to be companions: sons, daughters, friends who are free to choose whether or not to listen to and cooperate with their Creator. God’s desire for relationship with humankind did not change when they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and God continued to speak with them.

God chose to identify more fully with humankind at a specific point in time by being born as a human, Jesus of Nazareth. The possibility of our being fully connected with God ensues from being in relationship with Christ. Our ability to recognize God’s desire to be involved with us and the gift of grace that enables us to respond to God come from the Holy Spirit. Jesus said it was important for him to go away so that the Father would send the Holy Spirit to be with us always. Believers are the temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Cor. 6:19).

Many scriptural passages affirm God’s desire and delight to be in relationship with people. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” If God loves us and we desire God, somewhere along the way we will encounter one another.

Reflecting on people’s experiences with Jesus while he was on earth helps us think about what it is like to experience God in a person-to-person relationship. People experienced Christ in many ways, as teacher, leader, storyteller, friend, confronter, asker of insightful questions, one who overturned religious systems, compassionate listener, helper, provider, healer, one who opened doors to new perceptions and life possibilities, a mystery, and Messiah, Savior.

A wide range of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors were evoked in people when they interacted with Jesus. Their encounters with him provided information that was important for their relationship with God and opened the way for new opportunities. Jesus invited people to follow God. Some did and some turned away. Most of the life-changing experiences people had with Jesus were perceived to be between two human beings, even though it was clear that God was somehow involved. We can consider and pray about how our own interactions with Jesus are similar and different from those we read about in Scripture.

Chapter 11, “Scripture,” contains references to numerous encounters between Peter and Jesus that are like snapshots of their relationship. The first time Jesus encounters Peter, he guides Peter to a miraculous catch of fish and then calls Peter to follow him and become a “fisher of men” (Luke 5:1–11). Jesus invited Peter to move away from shore and drop his nets into the deep. People who are reading this Scripture passage may sense that the Spirit is inviting them to

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