Six Levels of Relationship Between God and Man

Think about a relationship between a husband and wife. They have several levels of relationship: Acquaintances, Friends, Sweethearts, Spouses, and Lovers. As we move to a new level, do we drop the previous ones? No, these leves are: Increasing & Simultaneous.

I was reading a book where they refer to an author named Jack Hill that mentions the six levels of relationship between God and Man. The six levels of relationship that we will meditate on today are:
1. Potter / Clay
2. Pastor / Sheep
3. Lord(King) / Servant
4. Friend / Friend
5. Father / Son(Daughter)
6. Lover / Love


1- Potter / Clay
Jer 18: GOD told Jeremiah Up on your feet! Go to the potter's house. When you get there, I'll tell you what I have to say." So I went to the potter's house, and sure enough, the potter was there, working away at his wheel. em>Whenever the pot the potter was working on turned out badly, as sometimes happens when you are working with clay, the potter would simply start over and use the same clay to make another pot.Then GOD's Message came to me: "Can't I do just as this potter does, people of Israel?" GOD's Decree! "Watch this potter. In the same way that this potter works his clay, I work on you, people of Israel"

Rom 9:20 -21 Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn't talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, "Why did you shape me like this?" Isn't it obvious that a potter has a perfect right to shape one lump of clay into a vase for holding flowers and another into a pot for cooking beans?

In the book of Job, at one moment Job is complaining to God about his condition and God decides to answer – three chapters worth of answer that shows how the Potter answers the Clay when it is out of place. Job 38:1 And now, finally, GOD answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said: "Why do you confuse the issue? Why do you talk without knowing what you're talking about? Pull yourself together, Job! Up on your feet! Stand tall! I have some questions for you, and I want some straight answers.Where were you when I created the earth? Tell me, since you know so much!Who decided on its size? Certainly you'll know that! Who came up with the blueprints and measurements?How was its foundation poured, and who set the cornerstone....."

What are the benefits? “He’s got the whole World in His Hands”, etc

What are the responsibilities? Thanksgiving, Acceptance, Submission, etc

God is a sovereign Being, and has a sovereign and uncontrollable power over his creatures; he has an indisputable right unto them, and can dispose of them as he pleases

2- Pastor / Sheep
Psa 23 GOD you are my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of GOD for the rest of my life.

Isa 40:11 Like a shepherd, he will care for his flock, gathering the lambs in his arms, Hugging them as he carries them, leading the nursing ewes to good pasture.

John 10:1 "Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he's up to no good--a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it."
Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. "I'll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good--sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn't listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for--will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd puts the sheep before himself, sacrifices himself if necessary. A hired man is not a real shepherd. The sheep mean nothing to him. He sees a wolf come and runs for it, leaving the sheep to be ravaged and scattered by the wolf. He's only in it for the money. The sheep don't matter to him. "I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing myself if necessary.

What are the benefits? Protection, guidence, etc.

What are the responsibilities? Follow Him (Not follow the thief), Listen to Him (Not listen to the thief), Debt of Life – He gave his life for us.


3- Lord & King / Servant
Psa 116:16 O LORD, I am indeed your servant. I am your servant, the son of your female servant. You have freed me from my chains.


Mat 24:45-51 "Who, then, is the faithful and wise servant? The master will put that person in charge of giving the other servants their food at the right time. That servant will be blessed if his master finds him doing this job when he comes. I can guarantee this truth: He will put that servant in charge of all his property.
On the other hand, that servant, if he is wicked, may think that it will be a long time before his master comes. The servant may begin to beat the other servants and eat and drink with the drunks. His master will return unexpectedly. Then his master will severely punish him and assign him a place with the hypocrites. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.

What are the benefits: Belonging to the Kingdom

What are the responsibilities? Work, Multiply our talents, Obedience, kneel before the King, etc.


4- Friend / Friend
John 15:12-19 Love each other as I have loved you. This is what I'm commanding you to do. The greatest love you can show is to give your life for your friends. You are my friends if you obey my commandments. I don't call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. But I've called you friends because I've made known to you everything that I've heard from my Father. You didn't choose me, but I chose you. I have appointed you to go, to produce fruit that will last, and to ask the Father in my name to give you whatever you ask for. Love each other. This is what I'm commanding you to do. "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me before it hated you. If you had anything in common with the world, the world would love you as one of its own. But you don't have anything in common with the world. I chose you from the world, and that's why the world hates you.

Exo 33:11-12 The LORD would speak to Moses personally, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would come back to the camp, but his assistant, Joshua, son of Nun, stayed inside the tent. Moses said to the LORD, "You've been telling me to lead these people, but you haven't let me know whom you're sending with me. You've also said, 'I know you by name, and I'm pleased with you.'


Deu 34:10 There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD dealt with face to face.

What are the benefits? We have an opinion, etc

What are the responsibilities? We know what God is up to, we spend Time with Him, we Know him and know His heart, we share our burdens, we relate to each other, we are comanded to love each other, etc

5 - Father / sons and daughters
1Jo 3:1 Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God's dear children. And that's what we are. For this reason the world doesn't recognize us, and it didn't recognize him either.

Rom 8:14-17 Certainly, all who are guided by God's Spirit are God's children. You haven't received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the spirit of God's adopted children by which we call out, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. If we are his children, we are also God's heirs. If we share in Christ's suffering in order to share his glory, we are heirs together with him.

Gal 4:1-7 Let me explain further. As long as an heir is a child, he is no better off than a slave, even though he owns everything. He is placed under the control of guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. It was the same way with us. When we were children, we were slaves to the principles of this world. But when the right time came, God sent his Son into the world. A woman gave birth to him, and he came under the control of God's laws. God sent him to pay for the freedom of those who were controlled by these laws so that we would be adopted as his children. Because you are God's children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into us to call out, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer slaves but God's children. Since you are God's children, God has also made you heirs.

What are the benefits? We have access to all that belongs to the "family", unconditional Love, etc

What are the responsibilites? We are not of this world, the Kingdom is ours – Our inheritance, we are guided by His Spirit (Rom 8:14), we are like Him - His representatives, etc


6- Lover / Bride
Rev 21:9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the last seven plagues came to me and said, "Come! I will show you the bride, the wife of the lamb."

Isa 62:1-5 For Zion's sake I will not remain silent. For Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until its righteousness shines like the dawn and its salvation burns brightly like a torch. The nations will see your righteousness. All kings will see your glory. You will be given a new name that the LORD will announce. Then you will be a beautiful crown in the hand of the LORD, a royal crown in the hand of your God.
You will no longer be called Deserted, and your land will no longer be called Destroyed. But you will be named My Delight, and your land will be named Married. The LORD is delighted with you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a woman, so your sons will marry you. As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.


2Co 11:1-3 I want you to put up with a little foolishness from me. I'm sure that you will. I'm as protective of you as God is. After all, you're a virgin whom I promised in marriage to one man-Christ. However, I'm afraid that as the snake deceived Eve by its tricks, so your minds may somehow be lured away from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

Rev 19:6-8 I heard what sounded like the noise from a large crowd, like the noise of raging waters, like the noise of loud thunder, saying, "Hallelujah! The Lord our God, the Almighty, has become king. Let us rejoice, be happy, and give him glory because it's time for the marriage of the lamb. His bride has made herself ready. She has been given the privilege of wearing dazzling, pure linen." This fine linen represents the things that God's holy people do that have his approval.


What are the benefits? Intimacy, joy, love, dancing, etc

What are the responsibilites? Commitment, Faithfulness, Purity, Waiting and preparing for Him, Passion