Who is irresistible to you?

That’s a real story from a counseling session I had with a couple long ago. A story repeated countless times with many, many others. You can probably identify with the key aspect of the story: facing resistance.

Resistance is a key destroyer of depth in any kind of relationships.

We see it in marriage as in the story above.

We see it with children, as they resist the authority of parents. We also see it in parents who resist seeing their children as being something other than someone to be constantly directed.

We see it in the workplace all the time. Employees routinely resist job responsibilities, deciding for themselves just how hard they will work, and push back when that level of productivity is met. And we see it in bosses who resist listening to those they lead.

We see it in friendship when the comfort of being a friend is challenged by being a loyal friend.

We see it in the church as church leaders are constantly trying to pull a congregation to a committed faith that is more than lip service; and from leaders who think they are the only ones with good ideas.

And we all too consistently see resistance in our own relationships with God.

If the truth were to be told, we’ve established resistance within our faith. Many openly refuse to love God more than they do their children or spouses. We resist giving. We resist service that costs. We would never actually consider doing anything for God, at any time, at any cost, anywhere in the world.

Resistance hampers — and sometimes destroys — relationships. But when it comes to approaching God, it stalls it.

That’s because true relationship with God begins with surrender.

Jesus said, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Matthew 16:5-26.

The one person we see very little resistance toward? Ourselves. We indulge ourselves, and resist others. We find ourselves to be irresistible!

To have communion with God, we have to resist ourselves while discarding our resistance to Him: “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world,” James 4:8.

How is resistance hampering your relationships? What would your relationship with God look like if you removed all resistance to Him and surrendered your entire being to Him?

Scotty