How Is Your Relationship With God?

In 2012, a 19-year-old man from Washington state named Dakoda Garren was charged with stealing a rare coin collection worth at least $100,000. After Garren had completed some part-time work for a woman living north of Portland, the woman reported that her family coin collection was missing. Her collection included a variety of rare and valuable coins, including Liberty Head quarters, Morgan dollars, and other coins dating back to the early 1800s.

 Initially, Garren denied any involvement, claiming that the police didn't have any evidence against him. But then he started spending the coins at face value, apparently unaware of the coins' worth. He and his girlfriend paid for movie tickets using quarters worth between $5 and $68. Later on the same day, they bought some local pizza with rare coins, including a Liberty quarter that may be worth up to $18,500.

The news article reported, "Garren has been charged with first-degree theft and is being held in jail on $40,000 bond. Which, technically, is an amount he could easily afford if the valuable coin collection were actually his."   -Eric Pfeiffer, "Man allegedly steals $100 coin collection, then spends at face value on pizza and a movie,' Yahoo! News (9-21-12)

In our relationship with God, we honor God (or the things of God) when we treat him with the value he deserves. How's your relationship with God? Do you even have one? (cf. Matthew 12:30; 11:28-30). We hear a great deal about having a "personal relationship" with God, and of Christians who confess they do not (or wonder whether they do). 

The term :personal relationship" is redundant. I ask you, "is there any other type?" Like it or not, you are involved! Most of us tend to recoil from this denominational terminology because:

1. In practice it usually means "What Christ 'means to me' instead of the true relationship we can, should and must have with God in Christ.
2. It usually accompanies an emotion-based religion, not truth-based (self-based, not God-based).

My dear friends, to be a Christian is to have a relationship with God through Christ (John 14:6; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26-27; 4:8-9). It is personal, because it is your salvation! When you are saved by the gospel, you know God (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:21). Christ died for you, and saves you when you trust and obey (Matthew 11:28-29; Mark 16:16).

To have a relationship, certain things must be present. To begin, a relationship requires contact. You must have contact with God! (John 14:7-9) The Lord knows each and everyone of us (John 1:47-48). The question is, do we (you) know God? (1 John 2:12-14) What kind of contact do you have with God?

Secondly, a relationship requires spending time together. You must spend time God! Spend time in communication with him (Numbers 12:7). How? Spend time with the Bible (John 14:10; Hebrews 1:1-2; Psalms 1:2; 119:14-16. Spend time in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Mark 1:35; Philippians 4:6-7) Spend time worshiping, adoring, praising, and thanking (Philippians 4:4; Hebrews 13:17; Psalms 122:1). Additionally,  spend time serving others. When you help someone, you get to know them. By serving others, we serve Christ and know him! (Matthew 25:40)

Any relationship requires trust. You must trust God (John 14:11). You must also have faith (James 2:21-23) and obey God (Luke 6:46; 1 John 2:3-5; John 14:20-23). So go ahead and cast your cares upon God (1 Peter 5:5-7). Trust takes humility towards the one we trust. Trust also takes opening up yourself to God. Feel free to expose your heart to God, He already knows you completely!

A relationship also requires nurturing. You must take care of your relationship with God! Some might say, "But God seems so far away." In truth, God is as close or as far away as you chose to have Him in your life (Revelation 3:20). God is close to us when we choose to learn, trust, and obey His word (John 14:23); and choose to live for His pleasure and blessings (Ephesians 5-8-10).

So, what is the result of your relationship with God in Christ? You will become more and more like Jesus (Ephesians 4:20-24; Philippians 3:7-11). You will become more like Jesus:

1. In your love for God and others (Matthew 22:37-39);

2. In your trust and reliance upon God (Matthew 6:33);

3. In your obedience to God in all things (Hebrew 5:8-9)

In conclusion, the call of the gospel is to know God, and more importantly, to be known by God (Galatians 4:8-9). After all, those who know Christ and are known by Him "do the will of the Father" (Matthew 7:21-23)

Prayer: Lord Jesus I love You. Lord I pray You would refine me by the power of Your Holy Spirit so there will be more of You in my life. I realize I am made in Your image. My desire is to reflect who You say I am in my life. Help me to take steps towards Spiritual maturity. Thank you for your interest in my life Jesus. Amen

Have a blessed day,

Lisa