First things first- A relationship with God

God desires for us to have a personal relationship with Him first before anything else. However, the devil doesn’t care how many miracle we perform as long as our relationship with God is broken. This explains the word in Matthew 7:22-23.The bible talks of people performing miracles in the name of God yet God telling them that He doesn’t know them. This is a clear indication that God is more concerned about having a relationship with us than our service to him. This explains why after He saves us and before releasing us into ministry, he sits us with him and molds us then sends us to serve him. This was the case of John the Baptist.

When John was born, he was sent into the desert where he grew up knowing God. God first worked on him before releasing him to go baptize people including Jesus. His relationship with God had to be right and personal before his serve to God. This is the reason why God calls us to seek first His kingdom then other things will come later. It is useless to have it all on the outside with nothing inside. It’s like an empty shell. I imagine of an egg shell without any content inside. However beautiful or shapely it may look outside, it is useless without its content. This is usually the case of a Christian who doesn’t take time to first get intimate with God.

The church is so full of Christians who’s Christianity is defined by their works in church which include giving, preaching, healing and even organizing large Christian concerts and meetings. Although these acts are wonderful, they are useless to those who perform them if their relationship with God is not right. This is because at times we may not be able to perform these things in church. Sometimes we may be unwell or away from church gatherings and if our life is defined by works we will end up empty. Furthermore, when Christ comes we may miss our chance to be with Him because we will have dwelt on works rather than on a relationship with God.

A relationship with God involves abiding in Him and walking in His ways. It involves seeking to be in that secret place with Him where we can talk to him and him to us. In that place where we don’t need to in a crowd but where we can approach Him and have Him prune us, mold us and guide us in according to His desires. That place where we can get through reading His word and going to him in prayer and humility. That place where whether we have the strength to get out of bed and join others in praying or not, we can still get to and have an intimate time with God. That place and that kind of relationship is more important that our works.

My everyday prayer has always been that even as God uses me to glorify Him through my life and through serving Him that He will work in me and always keep me in that secret place. That place where works won’t be first but my relationship with Him will come first before my service. I desire that this will be your prayer too.

God bless you and keep growing in Him.