RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, 31ST OCTOBER 2018

MEMORISE:

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:40 KJV

READ:   John 1:10-13

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

MESSAGE

It is very important for every born-again child of God to have a relationship with Jesus Christ can never be overemphasized. Having a relationship with him goes beyond accepting Him as Lord and Savior; it means interacting with Him on a daily basis and involving Him in the running of your everyday life. It is expected of every child to have a cordial relationship with his or her father. 

This should also be the case with our Lord Jesus Christ, because He is referred to as the Everlasting Father in Isaiah 9:6. If Christ is the Everlasting Father, we must therefore have a beautiful relationship with Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is the best Father anybody can have, because He is loving, kind, tender, merciful and gracious. 

He is even more caring than any earthly father can ever be. He constantly seeks to have a close relationship with His children, but sadly, many of us are too busy to cultivate a  loving relationship with Him. It is unfortunate that which most children of God have with their Father is a 'take, take take' relationship. 

Any Christian who has a revelation of the evil that God delivered us from through salvation will take his or her relationship with Jesus Christ more seriously. When I became born again and realized how close to help I was  before God saved me, I was ready to do anything for this God. I was grateful that He saved a sinner like me, so much so that all I cared about was Pleasing Him.

Another reason why it is important to have a relationship with Christ is that our fate will be committed into His hands by God on the day of judgment. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says:

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

If we don't have a relationship with Christ now, how will we be able to face Him on the day of judgment? Christ is still full of love and mercy now, and He is still knocking at the door of our hearts and gently asking to be let in. He is right now seated at the Father's right hand, and advocating for us. 

However, a time is coming when He will He will be seated on His judgment seat to judge everyone who refused to accept His offer of mercy when it was available. At that time, His eyes will be full of fire and His entire countenance will be fiery (Daniel 20:11-12). There will be no begging or excuses then- it will be judgment without mercy. My advice is that you cultivate a relationship with Him from today.

PRAYER POINT:

Lord Jesus Christ, help me to cultivate a beautiful relationship with You from today.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 32, Luke 13:18-14:6

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 15: NEARER MY GOD TO THEE.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!
E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,
Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me, my rest a stone;
Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

There let me see the sight, an open Heaven;
All that Thou sendest me, in mercy given;
Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!

Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,
Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;
So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee. Nearer to Thee!