Our Astonishing Place in the Heart of God

“I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me” (John 15:15, NLT).

What a mind-boggling concept! To think that the God who breathed the planets and the stars and the wonders of nature into existence… would confide in you and me! That He would consider us His peers! The honor truly is astounding.

And yet, He does. He calls us:

• Co-heirs with Him (Rom. 8:17). Is that not amazing? His entire inheritance – that which He made His forever through His death and resurrection – He has simply handed to us as equal shareholders. Everything that is His, is ours!
• His confidants (Ps. 25:14). This verse says that He shares His secrets with those who fear Him. Can you even imagine what His secrets must be like? Well, they are yours, if you will draw near in intimate relationship with Him!
• His friends (John 15:15). Not only has He given us everything that belongs to Him, He has also brought us into the intimacies of His own personal business. He is not talking down to us as slaves; He has lifted us up to eye level and is sharing His very heart with us. He has lavished on us the most exquisite kind of friendship available in the entire universe.
• His bride (Is. 62:5). This last one is the most essential key in understanding how He looks on us. He sees us as His beloved partner for all of eternity.

If you are looking for the ultimate egalitarian view on marriage, you will find it in His heart. Regarding wives, He solemnly exhorts each husband in 1 Peter 3:7, “…She is your equal partner…” (NLT). When He calls us His bride, He is bestowing on us this same kind of esteemed, honored partnership with Himself.

Understand this: He is not betrothing us to Himself so that we can wash the dishes and clean the toilets for Him. No. He is drawing us unto Himself to be His soulmate. We are His cherished one. We are the treasure He shed every drop of blood in His body to make His own. We are the one He longs to have in His arms forever and ever.

 “‘When that day comes,’ says the Lord, ‘you will call me “my husband” instead of “my master”’” (Hos. 2:16, NLT)

Dear one, Jesus doesn’t want you as His slave. He’s not looking for someone to toil for Him, someone to order around. Instead, He is yearning for intimacy with you. When you make your home in your Husband’s embrace, all else that is needed unfolds beautifully from there. Action and obedience spring forth from belonging and mutual delight. Don’t worry about what you need to “do for Him” today. Find your resting place in His bosom, and all the rest will flow in spontaneous joy.