Photo by marlonolram
Let me start by painting a picture for you. If you’re a parent, imagine every morning your children come to the kitchen, and take a seat for breakfast. As you’re serving them their breakfast, they tell you how much they love you and how much they appreciate all you do for them. They ask you to take care of a couple of problems for them, and they never speak to you the rest of the day. The next time you hear from them will be in the morning, or maybe they say good night, if they’re not too tired before going to sleep for the night.
If you’re not a parent, imagine yourself treating your parents that way.
That is the type of relationship many Christians have with God. I know, because for many years, that’s the kind of relationship I and most every I knew had with God.
We tell God thanks, go through our list of wants and needs, we maybe pray for some other people, and then we go about our business the rest of the day without giving God a second thought. Why is that?
I think there are a couple things that come into play here. First, we live in a very busy and very distracting world. We are worried about the economy, our jobs, our bills, our future, and all the bad things happening around the world, etc. etc. etc.
What does God say about all these things?
Matthew 6:31-34 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
God tells us not to worry about these things, yet so many of us put more thought and effort into what we’re going to wear to work, or what we’re going to eat today, than our relationship with God.
Beside the business of the world that seems to distract us so much, there is that subtle attitude that slips into our relationship with God. It’s the same one that slips into most marriages; that’s the attitude of taking others for granted.
Most of us hardly give a second thought to the miracle that happens every day of our lives. That’s the miracle of breath, and food, and water, and sunshine and shelter, etc. etc. etc. We just come to expect these things rather than appreciate the miracle they are.
Anyone that has been married for a while knows a marriage, at least a good one, takes work. You have to put an effort into that relationship if you want it to be a happy one, you have to appreciate your spouse. You have to think about the other person even when you’re not together. You have to think about how special they are to you, and what you can do to be a blessing to them. You have to communicate, and spend time together.
What happens to couples who quite putting in the effort, who quit talking together, who quit being intimate with each other? They drift apart, and in many cases get divorced.
Even though God is always faithful, and He is always there for us, we often become unfaithful by neglecting our relationship with Him. Now, we may still be going to church, and dust off the bible once in a while for a chapter or two. Maybe we even spend a few minutes saying hello in the morning and good night before going to bed. But, is that a relationship? Most people spend more time with their pets and hobbies than in the development of a deeper relationship with God.
Why are so many of us exhausted, and wearied by the world when Jesus has offered to take that burden from us and give us rest?
Matthew 11:27-29 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Remember, God is faithful and He will always be there for us. If your relationship with Him is lacking, just ask, and He will help you turn that around today. Remember, He loves us beyond our human understanding, and all He asks, is for us to love Him in return. He wants to have an intimate relationship with us. Not a superficial relationship, but an intimate one.
Put God first in every area of your life, and you will live a much happier, peaceful, rewarding and content life.
Just knock and the door will be opened to you.
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