#2. Do you think the Lord wants to build a relationship with you? How do you know He does or doesn't?
#3. How do you build a relationship?
Related to these questions is the following quote on a post on Facebook. I don't know who first said (wish I had).
"God is still writing your story. Don't try to steal the pen Trust the Author."
That's brilliant because it does kind of mirror our thoughts and behaviors, whether or not we want to admit it. It's not that we don't want to build a relationship, it's more of a 'what's this going to cost me'? We do that rather than looking at what we gain. Plus... in a way you began building your relationship when you accepted Jesus as your Lord.
If your hesitation or wondering is based in the 2nd question - ask yourself why would the Lord go to all the trouble to tell us this in the Bible in so many different ways. Such as:
"...for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” [Hebrews 13:5]
"Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]." [James 1:17]
"Blessed and worthy of praise be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ," [Ephesians 1:3]
Those are only 3 of the hundreds of ways Father God is telling His people that He cares for them and wants to be in relationship with Him.
If your questioning is based in #3 then it's really much simpler than you might think. If you were to begin a relationship with anyone, what might you do first? Find out what they wanted, what they enjoyed doing...
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion),
And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?" [Micha 6:8]
"And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment." [Matthew 22L36-37]
And
"I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”
[Matthew 13:34-35]
This is the beginning of building a relationship. It is knowing the Father from His Word and continuing to build on your understandings. Love is always the motivation for what the Lord does and how He does it. It is the foundation to relationship.
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