A Call To Intimate Relationship With God Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. Series

As we begin our day, we are reminded to Praise and exalt Lord (Psalm 145:1-3). What does this mean? It means we prioritize our relationship with Him, just as a loving parent cherishes time with their child. We talk to Him, share our thoughts and feelings, and seek to please Him in all we do.

In Matthew 18:3-4, Jesus tells us to become like little children, humbling ourselves and acknowledging our dependence on Him. We are to approach God with childlike faith, trusting in His wisdom and might.

As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:25-27, God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and His weakness is stronger than human strength. When we come to Him as babes in faith, He reveals His power and wisdom in our lives.

Let us embrace this intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, our Good Shepherd, and our sweetheart. May we:

* Talk to Him first thing in the morning, saying "Lord, I love you" (Psalm 145:2).

* Share our mistakes and ask for help, like a child seeking guidance (Matthew 18:4).

* Seek to please Him in all we do, asking "What can I do for you, Lord?" (John 21:22).

* Offer ourselves to bear His cross, like Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32).

. In Matthew 22:37-40, Jesus tells us that the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And in John 8:42, he says that if God were our Father, we would love him.

But what about loving Jesus? In John 14:15, Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Some people might say that this means love is just about obedience, but I believe it's more than that. Loving Jesus is about treasuring him above all things, admiring him, delighting in him, and being satisfied in him.

In Philippians 3:7-11, Paul counts everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Jesus. He has experienced a deep and profound transformation of what he treasures and loves.

And in 1 Corinthians 16:22, Paul warns us that if we do not love the Lord, we will be accursed.

So, how important is it to love Jesus? Jesus says that if we don't love him more than our parents or children, we are not worthy of him. Being worthy of Jesus doesn't mean deserving him, but being suitable to be in his presence when he is our supreme treasure.

Let us pray that love would be awakened in us because of what God has done for us, and that we would treasure Jesus above all things. May we be transformed by this new birth, and may our love for Jesus be the test of whether we truly love God. May our relationship with God be marked by childlike trust, humility, and love. Let us delight in His presence, knowing that He delights in us as His beloved children. Amen.