December 17th

A Better Day Ahead

I have loved you,' says the LORD. Yet you say, In what way have You loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother?' says the LORD. Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated.' Malachi 1:2-3

If you don't want to go deep in a relationship, then you won't. It's true! If you don't want to have a relationship with someone, you can cut them out.

What's interesting in this is that a lot of people feel distant from God, like He's holding something back from them. But the reality is that God's not holding anything back. I mean, He gave His Son to die for us. So let's debunk this lie that so many of us have believed against God, reminding ourselves of a few things about how dearly God desires real relationship with us.

First, remember that God is the one who initiates. He has proven this first by creating us, which He didn't need to do, but did because He wanted to show us His love. Then He did it again by redeeming us through Jesus' death, which He didn't have to do, but chose to because He loved us.

Second, remember that God is the one who communicates. Now, you can't really know a person unless they communicate, right? Well, it just so happens that our God is the only god who speaks. In fact, He is the word made flesh, so we can see that communicating is at the very core of who He is.

Third, remember that God is the one who cooperates. What I mean by that is that He's not the one hindering the relationship. He comes close to us, and He's here to bless. He's here to serve. He's here to minister.

Fourth, remember that God is the one who associates. This is what Calvary is all about. This is our God, who took on human flesh so that He could associate with us, connect with us, unite with us, and partner with us, demonstrating in every way that He is a God who cares.

If God were to come to us today, there is nothing we could say that would somehow prove Him negligent toward our relationship with Him. Instead, He's the one who is always initiating, always communicating, always cooperating, always associating, and always loving.

God is continually calling us deeper into Himself and all He created us to be. The only question is whether we will answer Him.

Prayer Father God,

Thank You for loving me and being so steady in our relationship! I'm sorry for any way that I have doubted You, but I choose to believe You today. Please help me to be dependable for You, always loving You and growing into deeper relationship with You!

Amen