An experience I had some time ago got me thinking about relationships in general and our relationship with God in particular. I had driven an hour and a half to a couple’s home to provide some marriage counseling. They belonged to the local church I pastored.
Let’s just say the meeting turned out to be much more of a challenge than I had expected it to be.
As I returned home late that night, tired and surprised by the encounter, I thought about the three couples I had counseled during the past several months. The thought that occurred to me was that building quality relationships can be hard.
Then I thought about our relationship with God. According to the Bible, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1, KJV). But the point I want to stress in this post is that not all relationships are created equal. We are the ones who determine what kind relationship with God we will have.
I was telling this couple the same thing about their relationship with each other that night. Strong marital relationships don’t just happen. They require work.
The Relationship Challenge
I listened to the husband and wife verbally attack each other and make accusations for about thirty minutes. Then I asked some probing questions. It became crystal clear to me what the heart of their problem was. Consequently, I gave the husband a seven-day challenge. I promised him that if he took on the challenge, a serious change to the climate in his home would occur. His wife readily agreed that it would.
But I stressed to the husband that the challenge I had put before him would work only to the extent that he was willing to obey what I asked him to do. A similar thing happens in our relationship with God. He has put within us everything we need to build a strong relationship with Him. But success won’t just happen. We must put forth the effort to become strong and vibrant in the Lord.
Every married couple has a relationship with each other of some kind. But some people living in those relationships feel as though they are in a prison. The couple I visited belonged to a marriage that was on the brink of failure. But it was not hopeless. I was hopeful they would put forth the effort needed to turn things around. They said they were willing to.
Unfortunately, things did not work out for them as I had hoped. Eventually, the two parted ways.
It’s What You Make It
As for our relationship with God, every genuine Christian has a relationship of some kind. But when you meet someone with deep spiritual roots, believe me, that person was not born that way. Also, strong relationships with God don’t just occur over time. Rather, they are produced by diligence and intentionality.
How do you feel about your relationship with God? How much are you willing to do to make it strong and healthy–if it is not already? Remember that you and you alone are the one who determines what kind of relationship with God you will have.
Copyright © 2024 by Frank King. All rights reserved.