Relationships 101: God

Relationships 101 – God

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:28-31 NIV)

Our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son…So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. – Romans 5:10-11 NLT

 

We develop a loving relationship with God as His friends by…

1) Expressing our AFFECTION to Him.

I love you, Lord; you are my strength. (Psalm 18:1 NLT)

As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. (Psalm 42:1 NLT)

 

2) Focusing our ATTENTION on Him.

Find a quiet, secluded place…Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace. (Matthew 6:6 MSG)

 

3) Using our ABILITIES for Him.

Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering. (Romans 12:1 MSG)

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. (James 4:8a NLT)