When Your Life is Radically Changed, Can You Keep it to Yourself? (No!)
I long for others to enjoy an intimate relationship with the Lord, not a religion.
One of my biggest goals is to ignite a fire in the bellies of Sunday morning pew-warmers who are not experiencing a genuine relationship with Jesus. When you know how marvelous something is with every fiber of your being, you want to share it with the world. That is how I feel about my Jesus. The song “My Jesus” by Anne Wilson optimizes that feeling. I am adding it to the end of this post, and I hope you will listen to it and sing along.
Many Christians hesitate to share their faith because they don’t want to come across as pushy and risk alienating their friends and family. When you realize how much joy a life with Jesus at the wheel brings, how can you not share it? I remember what a mess I was. It’s a miracle that I am where I am today, and all the glory goes to God. Without Him, I would be nothing. I’d likely be dead. I put myself in many bad situations, and God’s protection saved me.
I’ll bet you’ve had your own experiences with bad choices. Who hasn’t? When looking back over your life, do you remember a time when things could have gone much worse than they did? Did you attribute escaping a bad situation to luck or happenstance? I don’t believe in either of those. I know my guardian angels worked overtime for many years of my life. I’m so grateful for my Savior.
I encourage you to put God first in your heart and life, filling every recess. I wasted so many years with one leg in the kingdom and one in the world. God cared for me and saved my life multiple times. Reflecting on my past, I imagine the Lord watching me with tears, saying, “My child, my child, why don’t you turn fully to me and stop with the nonsense?” I feel that way about my son right now, which breaks my heart.
But I know God’s timing is perfect. I learned from my mistakes and can help others through what I’ve been through. Personal experience is the best teacher. I am living my best life now. We’ve been blessed to live in a Christian community, and my faith is stronger than ever. Being connected to a church and like-minded people is so important. That’s why Hebrews 10:25 warns Christians not to desert the assembling together.
But just going to church on Sunday isn’t enough. You need to be connected to a church family, read your Bible, and listen to what the Lord says to you through it. You need to have relationships with people who are more mature than you are spiritually so you can learn from them and grow, becoming someone others will turn to. I started this post with my prayer to reach pew-warmers. If you aren’t one, I’m sure you know one. Maybe you can share this with them.
Going to church on Sunday doesn’t make you a Christian any more than sitting in your garage makes you a car.
God doesn’t want your religion; He wants a relationship. The sooner you develop one with Him, the more joy you will experience. It doesn’t mean your life will be problem-free. Jesus tells us the opposite in John 16:33. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
Having a loving God to lean on, trust in, and rely on in troubled times is more fulfilling than I can describe. Enjoy this wonderful song that is the epitome of how I feel.