Winter 1990

Contrasting Circles of Relationship
Wade E Taylor

"My mother's children were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept" Song of Solomon 1:6b.

"Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves" Song of Solomon 7:11-12.

The contrast between these two passages of Scripture indicates that a change in perspective and in relationship has taken place within the Bride. In the first instance, she responds to and works for her (Church) family. In the second, she responds to and works in direct communion and cooperation for the Lord.

As she developed spiritually, her relationship to the Lord went through a progression of change. Before, she only knew Him through that which she received from others. Now she is able to come into His very presence and enjoyt he fruit of an intimate relationship with Him.

Consider the decreasing circles of relationship to the Lord that are revealed within Scripture. A multitude of five thousand men besides women and children came to see the miracles that He did. These were fed on the level of their hunger. They received a goodly portion of the loaves and fishes. There were about five hundred believers at the time of the upper room experience, but only one hudnred and twnety tarried in the upper room until they had received the promise of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus sent out seventy who were given power to cast out devils and to heal the sick. He chose twelve as His disciples, who learned directly from Him. Within the twelve, there were three that entered into a still closer realm of relationship with the Lord; Peter, James and John. Even within these three, there was a gradation of intimacy. There was one, John, who entered into the circle of oneness with the Lord, for he alone leaned upon the breast of Jesus.

If we are honest with ourselves, we will be able to locate our spiritual perspective and experience within one of these different realms of relationship to the Lord. Perhaps with the five thousand; enjoying a meal prepared by the hands of the Lord Himself. Or, among the five hundred: becoming weary and slipping out of the upper room, just before the time of the outpouring and missing being among the one hundred twenty who received. Because of a cultivated quality of faithfulness, we may be found with those who are sent out by the Lord in ministry, as were the seventy.

We may be seen among the twelve, walking with Jesus along the dusty roads of that day, beholding all that He said and did. Or, we may be among the three whom Jesus took up the Mount, where He was transfigured as the brightness of the sun before them, as He conversed with Moses and Elijah. Then He took them into the Garden to pray with Him, but they slept as He prayed.

Perhaps we have come close enough to identify ourselves with John who alone leaned upon the breast of Jesus and heard His very heart beat. Later, this same John was sent, alone, to an Isle called Patmos where he received a vision of the one who stood in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.

Those in the outermost circle were satisfied to eat of the loaves and fishes. The one within the innermost circle was able to reveal the progression of the church and of the kingdoms of this world down through time. Most of us are found somewhere between.

The call of the Lord is yet going out to the individual. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it" Matt 16:24-25.

There is a great reward in inner satisfaction and fulfillment waiting for the individual that will respond to the call of the Lord to come closer. We are called to progress towards the innermost circle, past the many groupings that moved around Jesus, by overcoming where they failed. We have their example to teach us and to encourage us to press on.

"Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my loves" Song of Solomon 7:11-12.