"A Relationship with GOD"

 Reflections4Life™ March 19, 2023

“A Relationship with God”

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul…” Deuteronomy 10:12

Scripture Contemplation: Proverbs 4; Lamentations 2; Matthew 6:25; Romans 6; 8; Ephesians 4...

Through every attack, every trial, and hardship, one thing has ringed the most in my soul: “Is my life a true reflection of my relationship with God?” What is my life saying about God? What am I saying (my actions, my deeds) when I am going through a battle? Is my speech of defeat? Is it negative? Or, am I speaking with faith and confidence in what God has spoken and promised to my heart? Is my life truly reflecting who I say God is to me?

I declare, this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and inspiration for your heart, mind, and soul. Be cognizant of what your life is reflecting concerning your relationship with God. Walk in the goodness and promises of God, no matter what comes your way. Stand strong in the Father, who enables you to withstand all matters of storms, and cultivate your relationship every day.

A Mask of Religion

Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.

Mark 7:6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;

Actions indeed are louder than words. People will hear what we say, but look at what we do. Many shun a relationship with God because those who wear the mask of religion and say they are believers have not done such a great job of exemplifying a life that would draw others to Christ. Instead, rocked with scandal after scandal, and under the guise of saying we are believers, we have allowed and continue to allow atrocities to occur in this world, and excuse behaviors of people in power or high positions only to gain what we want instead of what God requires.

Perhaps it is because we have not fully believed. Maybe we have not sold out our hearts and souls to Christ. Because of this, it makes it easier to swallow the demands and standards we place on others but do not follow ourselves. We have mastered the art of religion and have failed at relationships. We have a form of godliness but our hearts and souls are lacking Holy Spirit, truth, conviction, and love. We are pretty edifices with decaying souls and spirits within. We use religion as a weapon, the letter of the law to shackles, bound, and kill but do not hold these same laws to ourselves. Religion without a relationship and the Spirit of God is just another way to bind and destroy people and strip the world of love. It covers the truth about who God truly is.

An Intimate Relationship

1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Peter 2:5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

I thought about how a dear friend lived her life up until her very last breath on this earth. What an example of Christ she portrayed. Her life touched many people. Her love extended everywhere. Her life spoke of kindness, love, forgiveness, hope, faith, and laughter, even amid excruciating pain. She left a legacy of greatness for those who loved and knew her. More importantly, she lived it. Every day; even through sickness and pain, she reached forward and brought light and laughter to others.

It was not her religion that captured or drew people to her but the light and love that shone through her. Her relationship with God translated into her relationship with people from all lifestyles, backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions. She did not use religion to try to persuade others to what she believed. Nor to condemn others for the lives they lived and what they thought. She gained respect for respecting others. Yet never compromised or shied away from what she, herself believed and stood for.

How many of us pay attention to what our lives are speaking? Do our lives line up with what our mouths have been confessing? Do our lives exemplify the life we say we are living in Christ? Would anyone know by our actions alone, if we were believers and loved the Lord? Would our life lead another to Christ? Would they want to partake in the goodness of God by what our lives reflect, and the fruit we bear? Are we bound to religion or free in a relationship with the Almighty King?

With Love and Kindness

Jeremiah 31:3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Romans 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

This is what I know; God has many things He desires to do for us on this earth. Many prayers He desires to bring to fruition. Blessings He desires to manifest in our lives. Yet, for many of us who call ourselves believers, we have fallen short in our faith and love. We have honed our skills in religion and the letter of the law, but have failed miserably in the lessons of unconditional love and relationships.

Sure, we will go to church, and say the right words, but our hearts are speaking loud and clear, affecting our actions. Our message is not one of faith, love, trust, and belief or a relationship with a loving and just God. Instead, it is a message of doubt, fear, regrets, unbelief, unjust, vengeful, and schizophrenic God. Then we wonder why the church is full of like-minded people, yet whose homes are cold and void of love and meaningful relationships, and no one knows one another. Our home, our family is our first ministry. What would our families say?

When are we going to let go and allow God to have His way? When are we going to honestly trust in God and give Him all of us? When will we let go of religion and gain a relationship with the Highest that is honest, open, healthy, and can translate into our relationships with others? Simply put, when are we going to drop the masks and stop hiding behind religion, making excuses for our bad behavior, our judgmental spirits, and our hypocritical ways?

I want my life to speak well of Christ; to be that walking epistle that draws others into a relationship with the Heavenly Father. I desire to not just leave a legacy, but to leave one of greatness by totally surrendering to God, and allowing Him to use me; even in my most testing and trying times. I do not want a form of godliness, wearing a cloak of religion, and my heart removed from who God truly is.

My Beloveds, May the spirit of peace and prosperity finds permanent rest in your lives. I decree that every good thing that God has ordained for your life will become evident to you. Your life has been speaking for you for a long time. It is a reflection of your relationship or non-relationship with God. Let your life express well of you and God, and you—your relationship and not religion—will draw others to the saving grace of Christ. You are blessed. Now go and be a Blessing!

©2023. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.