PREMIUM LEVEL

a Bible teacher whose teaching i value consistently advises and exhorts everyone who will listen to Daily spend time in God's Word, the Bible, praying to God in faith that God (by the Holy Spirit) will open up the Word to our understanding. this man testified that he learned this important lesson as a young man and as new Christian (born anew). the friend who gave the Gospel message to him also told him this key to becoming all that the Lord would have him to be throughout his life. I was already convinced that this life habit and commitment was important. but i had not and still have not ACTED as though I believe this. it reminds me of a sad misunderstanding that has come about in my life and perhaps many others' lives too. We need to desire to give excellence to the Lord. That means doing the best with what we have. However, during my school days (long ago), I got the impression that a "B" grade or even a "C" grade was good enough, that i didn't have to push myself to get an "A". "B" was ok. That mindset continued past school years. NOW I see that i want to give God my best, in order that i may be best connected to Him ( in the best possible way.) that's what i mean when referring to PREMIUM LEVEL WELL that was what I wanted to say. but let me continue a little: Last night some of us were in the phone for zoom Bible study. commenting on PSALM 116, one said it was definitely "transactional". After that the word was repeated 2 or 3 now times. I couldn't bear the thought of hearing Psalm 116 describing a relationship being called "transactional" for several minutes, so i said "I object to this being identified as transactional." oops. no one called me on my statement. BUT the Psalm does describe transactional dynamic. I think what i objected too was the bad connotation that that word has. it sounds cold and calculating. then i powered- is a baby's love for caregiver transactional? also, principal I have discovered in life is that an emotion or relationship with another human is only a "human", imperfect approximation (by us fallen people) of the perfect relationship or emotion that our Creator God is willing to move to for us. mm