Building a Relationship with God (Part 1)

When God spoke to me about all these, He said, "I am bringing My people back to Eden." As time went on, I came to understand that it means that He wants to build a relationship with you. So, are you 'struggling' with pornography, masturbation, or any other sexual sin, then please note that what you need is

to build a relationship with Him.

Now, this is what you should be thinking. Your relationship with God should be the major priority of your life, the Number One in your life. This should be as early on as possible.

The Preacher says in the Book of Ecclesiastes 12:1:

So remember your Creator in the days of your youth — before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them" (New English Translation)

 

When you have a Source of life in God, then you become a source of life; however, when you’re disconnected from your Source of life, there’s a good chance life would be sucked out of you, and that you’ll suck life out of someone else. You will also be tempted to use others for validation, rather than looking to God for His acceptance. This is how harmful and dangerous relationships are formed. This is why so many relationships go wrong.

When you read through the Word, there are really only a handful of passages about the single life, romance, sex, and marriage. The Bible mostly talks about the importance of your relationship with God, and how you can build one with Him. It is your relationship with God that will help your relationship with others, and also the one with the opposite sex.

Although you may find it overwhelmingly tempting to look for satisfaction to your sexual feelings in the arms of another – simply because your feelings are towards that person – the simple truth is you will never find that real satisfaction there. You have misdiagnosed your need. Your first priority, as we have seen from the above Scripture, must always be to get on board with God.

In 1st John 4:7, John states that love flows down from God to you. The verse makes it clear that God is the One who reaches out to you first and extends His love to you. As you get to know Him – as you grow gradually in the things of the Spirit – it becomes to you the most natural thing in the world to let that love flow from Him to you, and then on to others. The first step to feeling loved is thus recognising that you truly are loved by the greatest Being ever – God.

With human relationships, people send love notes or write a song to express their love to someone. Unlike our human relationships however, God did not send a note or write a song to express His deep love for you. He didn’t send a to-do list or create certain terms and conditions you had to meet to receive His love. He said in the Book of Jeremiah:

…Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee (Jeremiah 31:3, King James Version).

How did He do this? God sent His very best — His only Son (John 3:16). And the most important, heart-warming part of this is that He didn’t wait until you were ‘worthy’ of His loving before He reached out for you. He sent Jesus to meet you where you are, how you are, to take on your guilt, absorb your shortcomings, and pay the price for them by dying a most horrible death. All for you. When it was still uncertain whether you would accept Him or not. I mean, what love!

Jesus resolved everything; and in this way, He opened up the way for you to have an everlasting relationship with God. His death on the cross forever silences any doubt that He loves you. Yet God takes this love even one step further by inviting you into His own family:

“Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.

Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.

For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear (Matthew 11:28-30, The Passion Translation).

 

He gives His continual Presence to you through the Holy Spirit. He stays with you and dwells with you.

Given the above, let me stress here again that when you entrust your life to Christ, you need to realise that you are cherished by the most beautiful and powerful Being ever in existence. He knows your name. He knows everything about you. He sees you. He gave all to make you His own. You need to know that He is the love of your life. He will never give up on you.

Also, you never need to spend a single moment of your life trying to earn the love, acceptance or esteem of others, because you know that you have His. Unconditionally. Forever. Just as long as you stay connected to Him. You do not necessarily need to look for anyone to fill up your love tank, because you can find abundance, beyond your wildest imagination, in Him.

There is a great wall of difference between feeling you are loved and knowing you are loved. The instant you come to accept Christ as your Lord, and begin to live your life for Him, the Holy Spirit in you will reveal to you the love of the Father. Your relationship with God will impact your relationships with other people, and also how you see yourself.

When I come your way again next week, by the grace of God, we shall be pursuing this thought further. In the mean time, if you are yet to accept this Jesus and embrace His love, why not?! Call on Him now and ask Him to accept you, and He will, just as you are. Then begin to enjoy your new relationship with Him (yes, next week I'll tell you how). You may share your testimony with us here, share your thoughts and if you need any further help, just let me know. God bless!