Title: It is a relationship with God.
Contents
John 15:5-7 It is a relationship with God.
Someone asked this question on the Internet. "Ah! be difficult Please answer my question. Who will see me and believe in God? It scares me too. They are also cursed... Ah, what kind of relationship do we have with God?”
Someone answered this question like this: “God is the Creator, and we humans are His creatures. God made you and me. But the problem is that humans do not know God. It is the story that God did not create man. In other words, it’s like I don’t see my reborn parents as my parents.”
Ladies and gentlemen, those who have faith are well aware that God and I are inseparable. However, those who do not have faith do not know who God is and what relationship he has with God. So, when you ask them to believe in God, they respond in this way. “It looks like you want to believe in some Western God. You are busy, but what kind of God do you believe in? Where is God? Couldn't God be an astronaut? I eat well and live well without God.”
People who speak this way are usually people who value human relationships and have no relationship with God at all. From October 24 to 31 of last year (2005), an organization conducted a survey of 1,067 male and female office workers nationwide, “What method do you use to get to know other people?”
As a result, out of 587 male office workers, 37.1% answered, “I smoke with my boss or co-workers.” After that, 35.5% said, “I have a drink together,” making up 73% of male office workers. It was investigated that he used alcohol and tobacco for interpersonal relationships. Next, “We eat together” was 15.8%, “Working clubs or hobbies together” was 9.1%, and “Others” was 2.5%.
In other words, for the sake of smooth interpersonal relationships, you do things you don't like, but you pay attention to other people, and you do things you don't want to do while forcing yourself to do it. Why do you value interpersonal relationships so much? The reason is that I think the other person is deeply involved in my happiness. For example, if you don't have a good relationship with your boss, your work life can be difficult. There are also problems with promotion. Therefore, I put a lot of effort into building good interpersonal relationships.
In a way, it is natural to want to have a good relationship with someone who can benefit you. Because that way you can get help when you are in trouble or trouble. Likewise, Christians want to have a good relationship with God. Because we know that God owns all the resources of the world and is omnipotent who can heal our physical ailments, pains, and even the pain of our hearts. So, those who know the power of God like to think about their relationship with God once again when they are in a difficult situation.
When I was a bachelor evangelist, I had counseling in the counseling room at the Osan-ri Prayer Center. However, when I see people who come for counseling, they come with different types of problems. In some cases, counseling is so complicated that the matter is so complex that it confuses the mind and exhausts the mind and body. And sometimes it can be very confusing as to where the problem started and how to solve it.
For example, there is a couple problem between husband and wife, and a woman or man intervenes between them, resulting in a love triangle. And the love triangle, family members, friends, and neighbors intervene again, forming a square relationship. And in that square relationship, another event or character interlocks and becomes complicated. In such a case, the person who explains it blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blading will complicate the head of the counselor.
In other words, the counselor talks about complex issues, but in the end, the relationship between you and God is not working properly. However, people often tend to think that when human relationships become entangled, the problem is not a problem with God, but a problem that arises only from human relationships. Therefore, the problem is not solved, and the heart becomes even stronger.
Do you have a problem that is very stressful for you? Now, don't look at the problem only in your relationship with people, but try to see the problem in your relationship with God. And ask God the origin of the problem, and ask God how to solve the problem. In particular, the beginning of our problems that God speaks of and how to solve them are as follows. “I am the vine and you are the branches; if he is in me and I in him, this man bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:5,7).
In other words, the root of the problem is that I left God and my relationship with God deteriorated, and the solution to that problem is that we have to dwell in God again and live with the Word of God. However, people say that it is easy to see the human thing that is immediately visible as the root of the problem, and that the problem can only be solved by solving the visible things immediately.
I think. But keep in mind. It is a relationship with God, a matter with God. In other words, the problem can be fundamentally solved only by putting our heads together with God first and solving it.
A middle school student shared this dilemma. “I am a junior high school boy. From the first year of middle school, I received God and truly believed. And from the second year of middle school, it seems that I really loved God and stood by the essence of my faith. And I was really happy. Even if I was teased by other people... But about 3 months ago, my relationship with God started to grow apart. In the past, when we sinned, even a sense of guilt remained, so we repented, prayed, and loved God to the extent of keeping almost all the laws. But right now, it seems that there is no heart to love God at all. Of course, we receive grace at church every Sunday. I repented and shed a lot of tears, but from Monday to Saturday after the week, I bought so many things on my own terms. ㅠㅠ Even if I pray for God to give me a heart to love God like I did before, it doesn't work. How can I restore my relationship with God? It's really serious. If this isn't fixed, I'm going to die. What should I do. ㅜㅜ Please answer me quickly.”
Ladies and gentlemen, isn't it enough to believe that middle school students value their relationship with God to this extent and confess that they will die if their relationship with God is not restored? Of course, it is unfortunate that our relationship with God began to grow apart from three months ago and our love for God has disappeared. To those who confide in these difficulties, the Lord answers: “I know that you have persevered and endured for the sake of my name, and you are not sluggish. But I have this against you: you have forsaken your first love. Therefore, remember where you have fallen, repent and do the first works” (Rev 2:3-5).
When you realize the cause, you must repent and make an effort to restore your relationship with God. Some people commit certain special sins because of their distance from God and a bad relationship with God. For example, being arrogant, disobedient, lewd and licentious, or complaining about everything. In this case, you must repent to restore your relationship with God.
However, there are some people who turn away from God even though they have not committed any particular sin. The reason is that the passion of faith has cooled. It's because you've lost the thrill of your first love. Therefore, in this case, it is important to regain enthusiasm again. Such people have all-night worship services, set goals, pray, read the Bible, and evangelize, so they must be zealous to restore their relationship with God.
Everyone, don't you think that our relationship with God has become distant? Do you not get answers when you pray, do you not feel moved when you sing praises, do you only feel sleepy when you read the Bible, you do not see hope, and you only have miscellaneous thoughts of the world? Then we need to restore our relationship with God. Then we have hope. For the hope of the family, husband and wife must first restore their relationship with God in a beautiful and intimate way. For the hope, development and revival of the church, all members must have a right relationship with God.
Let me tell you again. It is a relationship with God. Hope and despair are at the root of their relationship with God, progress and setback are ultimately in relationship with God, success and failure are in relationship with God, blessings and curses are in relationship with God, misfortune and happiness, and heaven. And hell is ultimately a relationship with God. Therefore, if we want to live in hope, we must first restore our relationship with God. Each must repent and serve the Lord with zeal.
One of our church's prayer topics for this year is to devote ourselves with kindness, humility and sincerity. However, even if we dedicate ourselves to God, if we are not sincere with good humility and vice versa, arrogance and insincerity, our relationship with God will not be smooth and will deteriorate. In other words, depending on my relationship with God, I stand in the place of curses and blessings.
Guys, why did Jesus die on the cross for us? Because of our enmity with God because of sin, true peace and joy have been lost to mankind, so did not Jesus die as a punishment for our sins? Therefore, if we believe in Jesus, won't our scarlet sins and crimson sins become whiter than snow and whiter than wool, restoring our relationship with God?
And when our relationship with God is restored, can we have fellowship with God again and enjoy the peace, joy, and blessings that God gives us? In other words, Jesus came to restore our relationship with God. And since Jesus ascended into heaven and resurrected and sent the Holy Spirit, He is always by our side and in us, helping us to have a right relationship with God. I pray that with the help of the Holy Spirit, you will establish a correct relationship with God and that your soul will prosper in this foreign land, and that you may prosper in everything and be strong.