Thoughts
on Michael Wells’ teachings in My Weakness for His Strength - # 191
Michael’s book is
available through:
Abiding Life Ministries
International
Littleton, Colorado
Notice: this email is part of a
BLOG, called Living Life With a Capital “C”. Why a
blog? So that many can receive these thoughts
in an easy manner.
I
have observed for over 25 years that most Christians really don’t know HOW to
have a “relationship” with Christ due to the breakdown of family relationships,
even in Christian homes, which has led to most not knowing WHAT a relationship
really is. If someone doesn’t “know”
WHAT a “relationship” is, how can they know HOW to have one? And fellowship is out of the question…
DAY 171
It Is a
Relationship
This is the day the Lord has made: let
us rejoice and be glad in it. --Psalm 118:24
A
friend was sharing a very painful experience from his past. His father had
become ill and was in need of constant attention, so he went to his father’s
aid and daily took care of his every necessity until the day of the father’s death.
However, the son was vexed by the realization that the reason he was caring for
the father was that he knew that as soon as the father died, he would receive
the inheritance. He said that it would have killed his father to know the true
motive behind his son’s service. Serving the dying parent that raised,
nurtured, prayed for, and worried about the child simply for a monetary reward
was not the relationship the father desired, though I suspect that same story
could be told over and over again.
Often we hear something like this: “You
must persevere in Christianity for the reward. Yes, life is
miserable, but keep heaven in mind. Keep attending the meetings, doing your
devotions, and studying the Bible, for in the end you will receive the reward
of heaven.” However, there is
no mention of a relationship. John 15 - 17 makes it quite clear that a relationship is
available for us today. God desires fellowship with us today. Much is said in Scripture concerning
today. “Today if you hear His voice” (Hebrews 4:7). What a pity if we serve with
only the reward in mind, when the very fellowship of God is our reward now.
Yellow – VIP, Very Important Point Green
– IT, Incredible Truth
Red – GP, Greatest Promises
Turquoise – UR, Unfathomable Riches Pink
– PV, Priceless Victory
Michael
draws our attention to one of the most basic, fundamental aspects of life as a
Christian…”It is a relationship.” Not a religion,
not a set of rules, not a role we are to play, not a reward system for “doing good.” Being a Christian begins with becoming a
Christian…a birth, a spiritual birth. It
is amazing how often this truth becomes lost in all the discourse about life as
a Christian.
Every
birth establishes a relationship. If a
person is not born into a family, there is no relationship. There may be relations…how one relates (acts
or responds) to another, but in every relationship there is the foundational
standing that one is the family member of another. I am a Christian simply because I have been
BORN into God’s family. No one, or no
action of mine, can change that. Whether
someone proclaims me to be a “good” family member or not has nothing to do with
whether I am a family member or not. But
man cannot stand for things to be that simple.
Has
Michael pointed out perhaps the greatest deceit the enemies of God have played
upon Christians??? …the reward vs the
relationship? the activities vs the
access? the future vs fellowship (today)? Michael draws us to READ John chapters 15,
16, & 17 again…and to look for the fellowship that is available to us
TODAY, because of our relationship in the Family of God. Hallelujah!
Amen!
What
could Heaven hold for us, the children of God, compared to walking with Him
today?
To access ALL past weekly
blogs, go to Living Life With a Capital
“C” by logging onto www.leemccm.blogspot.com
NOTICE: another blog on
Michael Wells’ book, Sidetracked In The Wilderness, called Getting Out of the
Wilderness. You can access by logging onto
www.leemcchristianministries.blogspot.com
Lee McDowell Christian Ministries
P.O. Box 633244 Nacogdoches, Tx 75963 936-559-5696
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