Is your relationship with God or the Church?
Some of us have a relationship with Church and not with the God of the Church.
True change ONLY comes when we have a relationship with the Godhead- The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit!
We often get it twisted that we come to Church to change and to have a better life, but it MUST first began with our relationship with God. We come to Church to fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the Lord, but they are not the ones bringing about the changes in us. The Church building is not the one bringing about those changes. So many times, when Church hurt happens, the first thing we want to do is leave the church and the reason we do that is because our relationship was not with the Lord, but with the Church.
In the scriptures, you will find out that Jesus always says come to me, not the church first!
Here’s a couple of references:
Matthew 11:28- Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 6:3- All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
John 5:40- Yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
Revelation 22:17- And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
JESUS IS SAYING “COME TO ME”
Today, I want to challenge you to come to Christ Himself! Let Him in.
HOW
First, you must understand that He died for your sins because He loved you so much (John3:16). You must also understand that you must confess Him as your Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9). This means that you are accepting Him into your heart, into your life, into your relationships, into your every ins and outs. Jesus MUST become the CENTER of your life! Know that He has justified you through His blood!
Second, you must have a relationship with Him. How? You need to begin to READ His Word. You need to have a Prayer time, whereas you are not just doing the talking, but have enough time for Him, His Holy Spirit to speak to your spirit; to lead and to guide you! (John 16:13) As you begin to do these things, He will open your heart more and more towards Him. Ask Him to give you a desire for His Word.
Finally, you will develop the characteristics of Christ. John 15:16 says that you will bear fruit and your fruit shall remain. Galatians 5:22-23 explains to us the fruit of the Spirit that we ought to cultivate. You cannot bear and cultivate nothing without His presence in you!
So next time, you are faced with a situation, ask yourself “am I reacting as a person that have a relationship with Christ or the Church?”
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Written by
Sister Esthere
12/1/2021