"Seeking a Relationship"
- Rita Larson
- May 25, 2023
- 3 min read
When you are in a relationship with someone, you talk to them, you spend time with them, you purpose to get to know them, you want to please them, and you love and care for them. When you are in a relationship with someone, and you make a mistake, you apologize and ask for forgiveness. That is the same kind of relationship our Father wants us to have with Him. Are you living in a relationship with Christ, or are you just practicing religion? What does it mean to have a relationship with Christ? He wants us to commune with Him, love Him, admit our faults when we make mistakes, repent and apologize, and continue to love Him, knowing how much He loves us. This is a stark contrast to what religion tells us. Instead of following rules or being punished, we are invited into a relationship with a loving Father who desires us to draw near to Him.
Galatians 5:1 tells us to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Jesus came to set us free from the bonds of religion and to offer us a relationship with Him. Galatians 5:4, says, “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” We are not meant to be bound by any legalistic rules, but to be liberated by grace through our relationship with Christ. When we attempt to seek justification through our own works, rather than through Christ, we have missed the mark and forgotten that we have a Savior! We have been redeemed from the curse of the law! Jesus died so we can be forgiven of our sins and walk in freedom and victory! Hallelujah!
Another important difference between religion and having a relationship is how it affects our hearts. Religion can often leave us feeling burdened and overwhelmed with guilt and shame. Religion makes us feel like we have to work to prove ourselves worthy, and we are left still feeling like we are not good enough. A relationship with Christ allows us to walk in freedom and brings us peace and joy! Out of gratitude and thanksgiving, we give glory and honor to God for who He is and all He has done. We know that when trouble comes, our Father is there to help us and protect us! We walk in favor, knowing we are God's favorite son or daughter!
The Bible also teaches us that this relationship with Christ brings us true transformation. In 2 Corinthians 3:6, it says: “For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” The Spirit of God brings life and transformation while living in a state of religiosity brings death and bondage. The more time spent with God, the more we are transformed into His image and who we were created to be. We can walk in forgiveness and depend on the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God. God's desire is for us to be in a relationship, communing with Him. When we are in a relationship with Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit is unleashed in our lives. We no longer have to depend on our own works for justification. We are justified by grace through faith, "just as if I'd" never sinned!
Today, take a moment to examine where you are in your relationship with Christ. Are you just practicing religion, or are you living in a relationship with Him? If you find that you’ve been living in a state of religiosity, know that it is never too late to seek a relationship with Him and to live in the freedom that comes through a relationship with Him. Know that you are more than enough, you are good enough, and you are loved! ©Rita Larson 5/25/2023
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