UNCONDITIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Many people believe in God primarily for blessings and protection. They want a God who could give them comfort and security in this unpredictable world. However, they are not willing to surrender their lives and ways of life to God. As a result, they reject any god that does not align with their desires and goals in life. Jacob, the son of Isaac and a grandson of Abraham, exemplified this life. On his way to his uncle Laban to escape from his brother Esau, whom he had wronged by stealing his blessings, God gave him a dream of blessings and protection while he was sleeping on the road. Jacob was blessed and encouraged, but his heart was not completely surrendered to God. He only wanted God's blessings and protection. He said, "If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, and if I return safely to my father's home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me" (Genesis 28:20-22). Jacob has a conditional relationship with God. It is like a transactional relationship. If God did all these things that he wanted, then He would be His God. If not, God would not be his God.

God does not want us to believe in Him with conditions, but God wants us to believe in Him unconditionally. God does not need us, but we need Him. He does not force us to believe in Him, but He is calling us to believe in Him, and it is always our choice to believe in Him. Jacob had a rough life until he completely surrendered his life to God. He eventually became the father of the tribes of the nation of Israel after he completely surrendered to God. We cannot have a conditional relationship with God if we want His blessings and protection because He will not give in to our conditions. He is God, and we are not. He indeed loves us, but He cannot do a mighty work in our lives until we surrender our lives to Him. 1 Peter 3:12 says, "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are inclined to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." The righteous in the above verse refers to those who believe and have surrendered their lives to God. 

If we want God's blessings and protection in our lives, we must surrender and submit our lives to God. Otherwise, we are just fooling ourselves. God will never give in to our conditions because He is the God who created us. And someday, we will give an account for how we lived our lives to God on judgment day, after our lives are over on this earth.

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Do I put conditions in my relationship with God? Why is it that a conditional relationship with God will never work? What should be my attitude before God if I want his blessings and protection?

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 acknowledge that you are God and I am not. Please forgive me if I have been putting conditions on my relationship with you. I submit and surrender my entire life to you, and repentantly turn away from my sinful ways. I need you as my God, for my life is a mess without your guidance, provision, and protection. In your name, Jesus, I pray, Amen.