What is a relationship with God? Is it like the relationship with my wife?.......or with my mother or father? How about a close friend or my neighbor? I always try to look at different people in the bible. Adam/Eve. What did they do to have a relationship with God? If I'm not mistaken...it was God who began one with them. Even after the fall.....I know that sin did separate them from Eden....but I don't think it separated them from God. But then again......not much is said about it. Then there was Noah (I'm skipping a few guys here and there). God really did like Noah. For one thing.....Noah did build a boat.....in a time when it DIDN'T rain at all. Not to mention.....the guy lived NO where near water! He did exactly what God told him to do. Again.......God initiated the relationship. Onto Moses. I really like Moses myself. Here's a guy who grew up in a world where he was something big.....he was heir to the throne of Egypt. I'm sure the guy didn't lack a thing in the world. If it was worldly.....I'm sure Moses knew of it. He ends up in the desert over an incident. Makes his way into a shepherding community........finds love....find a family......finds peace. Same story again......God reveals himself to him.......not only that......backs Moses up with authority and power in the face of Egypt. God initiated the relationship. There's Samuel, David, Abraham......Jacob.......Issaic.......don't forget about the 'PROPHETS'.....both major and minor. So what is a relationship with God? Do we have to work hard at it? There was something about those guys in the O.T. that God really liked. Why Noah? I'm sure that there were thousands of people GOD could have chose from. What about David? Why make the guy King of GOD's people? Even Abraham.......God called him out of idol worship/paganism.
God initiates the relationship. I say this......not from experience (I'm still trying to figure this out).....but from observation. I find myself trying to win the approval of God....when HE already approves of me. I know this in my head.......not so much in my heart. I admire the men and women of the O.T. because they were just like you and me. Abraham left a pretty good life because he had an encounter with God. Noah built that huge ark because a voice told him to. Abraham almost killed his promised son because that same voice spoke to him. Moses did wonders time and time again because of the word spoken to him by God. What I'm getting at is this........one encounter with God is enough to change a person forever. It can change numbers of people. It can influence a whole culture or society. It can even save the world. One thing about these men and women is......once they met the LIVING GOD.......they never wanted to turn back.......they were consumed by HIM........HE truly became their God. Again I say..... God initiates the relationship. I want to know how I can have an encounter with God myself...... if you could have an encounter......would you? -JGR
My lovely wife and I just celebrated our first anniversary. A year ago we were under this very tree. We were married by Dr. Richard Trader. This year has flown by and it has been one of the best years of my life. A year later......Denise and I made a visit to Noccalula Falls. Although it was a lot colder this year.......it was still a beautiful day.
What a week this has been in US History. In addition to the darkness of Monday..... our country also commemorates the Columbine shootings, Oklahoma City bombing, the end of the siege in Waco Texas (Branch Davidians) and a day to Commemorate the Holocaust (for the Jews and the world to remember). So much darkness is remembered this week. In the midst of the darkness, I am thankful for my life, my family, friends and the freedom that I have in the country. Although I've not touched directly by these tragedies........it still touches my heart and reminds me that life is fragile......it is a gift.....every life counts.......because everyone is made in the image of God. On that note......I also rejoice in the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the ban on Partial Birth Abortion. I just wanted to share an article that I recently read on Morningstar Ministries website. He sheds a lot of wisdom on recent events. The article was written by Rick Joyner. It is a bit lengthy....but it is worth the read.
