INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Christianity is a new life in our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not a religious ritual, Sunday service, or religious holiday event; it is about living in obedience and trust in our God on a daily basis. God is always active in our lives because He is in us. Jesus said this in John 14:20, "When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." When our Lord Jesus ascended back to Heaven after His resurrection from the dead, He asked our Heavenly Father to send us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us (John 14:17). Since the Holy Spirit dwells in us, God is always with us in no matter what situations we are in. Jesus is saying to us that we have an intimate relationship with Him. Christianity is not something that we take off and leave so that we can do whatever we want; it is about a life of obedience and trust in our God. It is a new life that we receive when we genuinely believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit cannot leave us when we are sinning. The Holy Spirit always stays in us, and He grieves when we sin. In the same manner, the Holy Spirit remains in us when we face difficult problems and understands our struggles. 

While our God dwells in us, His goal is to complete the good work that He began in us (Philippians 1:6). When God poured His grace, mercy, and love on us to save us from our sins, His goal was to transform us to be like our Lord Jesus. He started to change our hearts and renew our minds. For some of us, this is a very slow process, but God is always at work in us. So, let us be encouraged by God's continuous and unwavering commitment to transforming us into the people He wants us to be. Being a Christian means that we have an intimate relationship with God through our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. If we are struggling with our walk with God today, let us be encouraged that God is in us, and He will never let us go. Let us hold on to our faith in Him, but even when we are too weak to hold on to our faith, God will carry us on, for He is faithful to finish the good work that He began in us.

Christianity is based on God's love, grace, and mercy toward us. Our salvation is free, but it cost our Lord Jesus His life; therefore, our salvation is very important to God. He wants us to continue living in the new life that He has given us—a life filled with hope and joy.

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) What is Christianity? How does a person become a Christian? How should I live my life as a Christian, knowing that I have an intimate relationship with God? 

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, I am a Christian because you have touched my heart to believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I praise you for the intimate relationship I have with you. My relationship with you is not based on feelings but on your love, grace, and mercy towards me. Thank you that I am forever yours. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.