FIRST THINGS FIRST: Your Relationship with God

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Jesus wasn't impressed when people sought Him out only for the material blessings they could get from Him. When the multitudes went all over looking for Him after enjoying His miraculous provision of fish and bread, instead of commending them for diligently seeking Him, Jesus actually rebuked them saying:

²⁷ Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life…” – John 6:27 NKJV

Yes, God has promised to supply our needs. Yes, He even invites us to ask Him for provision, but – NEWSFLASH – God is much more interested in transforming us into the image of His Son than in meeting our temporary fleeting needs. He is a loving, responsible Father who’s got His priorities right. He is not our errand boy, nor is He some genie in a bottle waiting to grant our every whim and wish… Sometimes I feel like our modern version of Christianity has made God into a cosmic vending machine. You put in the right amount of money, punch the right buttons and voila…you have whatever it is you want. We’ve reduced our relationship with God to a business transaction of sorts… no fellowship, no intimacy whatsoever.     You see beloved, even in the natural, healthy relationships are reciprocal, to have a relationship with someone solely based on what you can get from them is pretty selfish and somewhat abusive too. The thing is, when you have a healthy relationship with someone, access to each other’s stuff is simply a byproduct of that relationship.

Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we are privileged to have an intimate relationship with God. We have an eternal Covenant with God and in that Covenant we have been made joint heirs with Christ. We can do ALL THINGS through Christ...How awesome is that!

Beloved, spend quality time with the Lover of your soul, throughout your day talk to Him, share stuff with Him, get His viewpoint on issues. He is very interested in what interests you, remember it is He who gave you those pure desires in the first place, so don’t compartmentalize your life – share it with Him – not just needs and wants but all of it...plus, He is with you 24/7! Don’t limit Him to only “church time”, Bible study or all the other Christian ministry stuff you do. Include Him in everything you do, ask for His input and direction. He so loves that and enjoys seeing you excel in what you do, no wonder the Word says:

⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. – Proverbs 3:6 NKJV

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You see beloved, once we have a healthy vibrant relationship with the Lord, we will enjoy His provision, direction and everything else as byproducts of our intimacy with Him. No more fretting over our needs and wants for He shall supply them abundantly as we continue to delight ourselves in Him.

Amen!