I want to start by asking you to think. What comes to mind when you hear the word “relationship”? What about “religion”? When I think of a relationship, I think of love, family, friends, marriage, quality time, unity, faithfulness, connection, and foundation. Religion: beliefs, rules, law, Christianity, God, power, faith, church, religious groups, organized, principles, and system. I want to focus on what a real relationship with Jesus truly means and compare it to modern-day Christianity. We know that Jesus made a huge sacrifice for us when he died for our sins. He paid the price so we could have an opportunity at eternal life with our Heavenly Father. Jesus desires a relationship with each of us because he is the bridge to God. A relationship with Jesus is not only about going to church every Sunday. It’s beyond that. Think of a relationship you’ve been in. Did you only encounter this person one to two days a week? Did you talk on the phone every day? Did you spend quality time with this person? Did you tell them that you loved them? Now think about your relationship with Jesus. How often do you pray? How much time during the week do you spend reading the Word of God? What are you doing with your spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities? Are you doing good works that glorify God? A relationship is a personal connection you have with someone, and that connection is special and familiar. It’s not strange or confusing. It should feel safe and secure. The modern-day “Christian” probably spends more time on social media than in their bible. Now I don’t have anything against social media. I appreciate it because it is a platform where you can reach multitudes and allows you to connect with family and friends without having to see them face-to-face. But social media can also be a monster. It can hurt and ruin relationships if we let it. The point I am trying to make is that some Christians today are missing the relationship aspect of their faith because they are so preoccupied with life. You don’t have to fall into that category if you prioritize your relationship with Christ. Many of us will feel anxious or fall into depression because our spiritual life is lacking, and we are in need of a special kind of love that can only be felt and given by the Holy Spirit. The word Christian means Christ-like. In the book of Acts, the disciples were going around teaching people about the Kingdom of God and baptizing them in the name of Jesus Christ. The first time the term Christian was used is also in the book of Acts, Chapter 11, specifically. The disciples were called Christians because they followed the teachings of Christ. Christianity is our religion, and what we do as Christians is so much bigger than the religion itself. I encourage all my readers to keep perfecting their relationship with Jesus and continue to mature spiritually. God will always remain faithful even when we are not.
Jesus the True Vine:
John 15: 1-8 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” NKJV.
