PRAYER + PRAISE
An Everlasting Relationship Through Christ
- Sarah Upham // June 29, 2009
God has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Hebrews 13:5
Living on this earth, with death and decay all around, brokenness continually prevails. We have all had a relationship with another person that turned sour or abruptly ended. As a collective society we have seen divorce and other circumstances splinter families; we have lost touch with old friends, sometimes due to a dispute; or for some of us, had a loved one die suddenly. Despite all these hurts that can cripple our soul, we have God - the only solid rock upon which we have to stand. We can be absolutely sure of this: He will never fail nor leave us.
God wants a relationship with us – the one and only relationship that will not crumble or fade away. When we place our faith in Jesus instead of the material things of this world, and we want Him in our lives day in and day out, then we become His children and can forever rest secure in His love. Once we accept Him and enter into that relationship, He works in us to grow closer to us. That relationship is then protected because of God’s character and Jesus’ death on our behalf. No matter all the wrong we’ve done in our lives, we still live in God’s grace. And His presence is never far from us.
Jesus took our death penalty upon Himself. He died for our sins...so it is a free gift to us, but it was not free to Him. A person who becomes a Christian has an honest desire to have an ongoing relationship with God, an ever growing and transformational relationship. All believers are forgiven, declared righteous in His eyes, because Jesus covers our sin. Unfortunately, at times we may find ourselves wanting to sin or choosing to do things our way instead of God's way, chasing after our will instead of God’s will. Even still, this does not change the security of our relationship with Christ. God will not fail us though we fail Him at times.
From the moment we receive Christ into our lives, we enter into a new relationship with God and have a new life, one that is eternal. Jesus said (John 6:37), “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” We stand secure in Him always and, therefore, can go about this world knowing that He will be right by our side no matter the situation.
Praise: That God sent His Son to die for our sins, so that we may have everlasting life with Him; and that He forgives us and loves us no matter what, and that He is willing to have a relationship with us.
Prayer: That we hold up our end of the relationship as best we can, that we strive to grow our relationship with Christ and continue to be transformed into His likeness.
Prayer for Today: Thank you, O Lord, for today as every day. Thank you for your sweet, amazing grace. Thank you for loving us, for adopting us, and giving us firm ground upon which to stand. We pray for those whom are still searching for the unbreakable bond, those who are lost and broken. We pray they will seek You, want a relationship with You, and be forever transformed in Your loving grace – and know that because of Your relationship with us, that You will be with us forever and ever. We pray all of this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.