“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” --John 15:15
Do you want to be a friend of Jesus or just a casual acquaintance? Do you want to know about Him or would you like to really know Him?
If you want to experience closeness with God, it takes discipline.
To make your relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ personal and intimate, you have to put a little work into it. You must cultivate your relationship with Christ just like you would a relationship with any other friend.
Here are three ways you can work on your relationship with the Lord Jesus:
1. Interact with the living Word of God, the Bible. When you open God’s Word, you can listen to Him. God speaks to us from the pages of His Word!
2. Engage the Lord in prayer every day and in every way. Prayer will keep you connected in your relationship with Christ.
3. Spend time with Jesus’ friends—other believers. Join a church and attend faithfully. Surround yourself with those who love Jesus and who can give you insight and teaching from God’s Word!
Becoming a close, intimate friend of God takes effort, but it will be the most worthwhile investment you will ever make!
You must cultivate your relationship with Christ just like you would a relationship with any other friend.
“For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.” Luke 6:32–34
Charles Gordon went to China as a volunteer to help lead the fight against the Taiping Rebellion and protect Western citizens from the rampages of the revolt. His great success in the field in charge of what came to be known as the “Ever Victorious Army” helped put down the rebellion and restore peace to the troubled land. Unlike many military leaders of his day, Gordon did not come from a wealthy family and had little in the way of resources. The grateful Chinese government commissioned a special gold medal for Gordon in honor of his service.
When Gordon returned to England, he found news of a great famine, and he wanted to do something to help. His medal from the Chinese government was the only thing of real value that he possessed. Gordon took the medal and hammered out the inscription carved into it so that it could no longer be identified. He then sent it anonymously to the treasurer of the fund raising effort along with this note: “This is the secret of bliss—to give away your medal!”
Though God does reward us for our giving, that can never be the primary motivation. Instead, a proper appreciation for the grace God has given to us so freely should lead us to give with the same spirit of generosity—and without consideration of return. When we invest the resources God has entrusted to us in His work to help others, we are giving the way that God commands.
Today’s Growth Principle:
If we are giving only to get a return, we aren’t really giving but rather trading.
No comments:
Post a Comment