Whether you consider yourself a mature Christian or a novice one, may I suggest that before you respond to God’s question, isolate yourself and take mental inventory of how you perceive some of life’s greatest values. (Do you agree or disagree with the right side of the chart below?)

The Greatest Handicap..........................................................................FEAR
The Best Day..........................................................................................TODAY
Hardest Thing To Do..............................................................................TO BEGIN
Easiest Thing To Do................................................................................FINDING FAULT
Most Useless Asset................................................................................PRIDE
Most Useful Asset...................................................................................HUMILITY
The Greatest Mistake..............................................................................GIVING UP
The Greatest Stumbling Block................................................................EGOTISM
The Greatest Comfort.......................................................................WORK WELL DONE
Most Disagreeable Person..........................................................THE COMPLAINER
Worst Bankruptcy........................................................................LOSS OF ENTHUSIASM
Greatest Need.........................................................................................COMMON SENSE
Meanest Feeling.........................................................REGRET AT ANOTHER'S SUCCESS
Best Gift...................................................................................................FORGIVENESS
The Hardest and Most Painful To Accept...............................................DEFEAT
The Greatest Moment..............................................................................DEATH
The Greatest Knowledge.........................................................................GOD
The Greatest Thing..................................................................................LOVE
The Greatest Success
      In The World.........................................SELF FULFILLMENT AND PEACE OF MIND


   

So, now that you have found a way to examine your emotional feelings about some of the greatest values in life, and how those feelings can influence your relationship with God, let us now try to honestly answer God’s question concerning your relationship with him.

Where To Find Your Answers…

The Holy Bible gives us a litany of Scriptures to help us evaluate our connection and relationship status with the eternal God our Maker. He also gives us the Glue, which is through the power of the Holy Spirit, to stay connected to him. But most of all, God has given us a visible Teacher, his Only Begotten Son, Christ Jesus, to be an example and to teach, lead, and guide us along the way. And to make certain that among all whom God has given to his Son, none will be lost.

A perfect relationship with God is knowing that we are in good standing and saved (from the fate of physical death unto the power of eternal life) not by our good deeds and/or righteous living, BUT by what the Bible says about faith in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Scripture Lessons:

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ” I John 5:13-14

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, (a warm-blooded man to a physically cold world) that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

“In him (Jesus Christ) we have redemption (a Ransom paid to redeem our sins) through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” Ephesians 1:7

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father’. Romans 8:15

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” Isaiah 59:2

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” James 4:17

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12-13

My Prayer For You…

Dear Heavenly Father: As your children go forth in an effort to solidify their relationship with you, please do not allow them to spend an enormous amount of time in doing so. Why? Because it may cause them to spend too much time thinking about themselves and their short comings and not enough time getting to know you. For your word says for us to (just) ask and we shall receive, seek and we shall find and knock and the door will be opened unto us.

For your children know that you are the Good Shepherd, and you know without any doubts those that are seeking to strengthen their relationship with you. For it is written that You, Jesus, know us and that we know You. And that you desire to have a strong relationship with us. We ask all of these blessings in the precious Name of Christ Jesus, Amen and Amen!

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