Our Relationship

Good Morning,

Colossians 3:16-17 (NIV)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
John 15:4 (NIV)
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

So, I checked my in box this morning...(imagine this for a moment: people actually used to have to read words on paper to check their in boxes!)...anyway, I checked and found two totally unrelated messages. At least they certainly seemed to be unrelated to my eyes and thoughts. But, as I reflected on the verses of Scripture I saw what was being pointed out to me.

You see, it's ALL about relationship, this deal we have between God and us. It has a bit to do with the facts that we read in the Bible, yes, but in the end it isn't about the facts we read but the relationship we garner through what we read. THAT, the relationship with each of His children, is what God seeks from every one of us.

So, how do we get this relationship? And, once we have the relationship, how do we improve it and get the most out of it?

Having a one on one, personal relationship with God begins, of course, by accepting Jesus Christ into one's life as Lord and Savior. That is where it starts and it is the ONLY place it can start. Without knowing Jesus Christ personally, well, it just isn't possible to have that Abba Father relationship with God. It's the way God has designed it.

So, now I have the relationship with God that both He and I desire. Where do I go from here? I mean, do I just sit around and wait for Him to speak to me? Do I pray and talk to Him? Yes to both of those questions. But, there is so much more that we can do, actively, to improve and grow the relationship we have with God...and to make it even more personal and meaningful.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly..." That is where the relationship with God grows and prospers. Reading the Bible. Searching the Scriptures. Allowing God to speak through what He has had written to us. Is it as simple as that? Well, yes and no, I guess. If we don't allow God's words to dwell in us so we understand what He's saying to us, it's so much more difficult to understand the relationship that has begun between us. When we read what we have given to us then we more fully gain insight into what that relationship means.

So, that brings us to what Jesus said, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you..." That is the ultimate in our relationship with God. Him in us and us in Him. That's what it's all about. How much more personal can it get?

I know that I'm simplifying this today, but, well, sometimes it really is just that...simple.

Accept Jesus Christ. Begin the relationship with Him, with God. Read the Bible and learn. We understand that we are in Him and He is in us. Then life is so much more than just being alive.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David