Life

Your Most Important Relationship

Grand Canyon

YOU were created with value and worth. God wants your life to count. Did you know…

1. GOD LOVES YOU AND CREATED YOU TO HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.

Separation Between God and Man
God created you. In Psalm 139:13-14 the Bible says, “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and knit them together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!”

God loves you . “For God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

God wants you to know Him. “And this is the way to have eternal life — by knowing you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth!” (John 17:3)

Why is it that many people do not have a personal relationship with God?

2. OUR SIN KEEPS US FROM HAVING A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Our sin keeps us from having a personal relationship with GodWhat is sin? “Knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin.” (James 4:17) You see, God is holy and perfect…and we are not. Sin not only means doing wrong or failing to do all that God wants. Sin is also our attitude of ignoring or rejecting God. Because God is holy, He cannot accept our sin.

Who has sinned? “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)

What happens when we sin? “But the trouble is that your sins have cut you off from God.” (Isaiah 59:2) “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) Sin causes a gap between God and us. Death, which means eternal separation from God, is the penalty of our sin.

What is the solution to our separation from God?

3. ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST CAN YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Only through Jesus Christ can you have a personal relationship with GodWhy Jesus Christ? In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the Way — the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except be means of me.” It is only through Jesus Christ that we can have a relationship with God.

Why did Jesus Christ have to die? “He died once for the sins of all us guilty sinners, although He Himself was innocent of any sin at any time, that He might bring us safely home to God.” (1 Peter 3:18) Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins, so we might be forgiven.

Why did Christ rise from the dead? Jesus Christ rose from the dead to prove He could give us eternal life. “Christ died for our sins just as the Scriptures said He would…He was buried…three days afterwords He arose from the grave just as the prophets foretold…He was seen be more than five hundred Christian brothers at one time…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)

How can you begin your personal relationship with God?

4. YOU MUST PERSONALLY RESPOND BY TRUSTING JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD.

You must personally respond by trusting Jesus Christ as your Savior and LordYou respond with trust in Christ. In Ephesians 2:8-9 the Bible says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– not by works, so that no one can boast.”

You respond by turning to God, and from sin. “Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to Him so He can cleanse away your sins…” (Acts 3:19)

You respond by receiving Christ. “To all who received Him, He gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust Him to save them.” (John 1:12)

Receiving Christ means:
TURNING to God from you own way of living (repentance).
INVITING Christ to come into your life and trusting Him to forgive your sin.
ALLOWING God to direct your life.

Receiving Jesus Christ is not just an emotional experience; nor is it just agreeing with your mind that Jesus is the Son of God. It means total trust, an act of your will.

Where would you place yourself in this example right now?

a. I don’t have a personal relationship. b. I would like a personal relationship. c. I have a personal relationship.

You can begin you personal relationship with God by receiving Jesus Christ by faith. You can express your faith (trust) through prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God. He knows what you mean even when it is difficult to express yourself. You may use the following words or you own.

“Dear God, I know that my sin has separated me from you. Thank you that Jesus Christ died in my place. I ask Jesus to forgive my sin and to come into my life. Please begin to direct my life. Thank you for giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Can you say this to God, and mean it? If you can, pray right now and trust Jesus to forgive your sin and come into your life, as He promised.

What next?

YOUR TRUST IN JESUS CHRIST BEGINS A LIFELONG RELATIONSHIP.

God commits Himself to you:

TO KEEP GROWING IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD…

G o to God daily in prayer. (Philippians 4:6-7)
R ead the Bible every day. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
O bey God moment by moment. (Luke 6:46-48)
W orship in a local church regularly. (Hebrews 10:24-25)
T ell others about Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:15-16)
H oly Spirit — let Him direct your life. (John 14:26)

NOW YOU CAN SHARE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP!

Share this with a friend!

And please share it with me as well! If you have prayed this prayer, please contact me.  I will send you a Bible and give you all the support I can.

 

image copyright Moyan Brenn

Leave a Comment