Personal relationship with Christ

It would be easy for a Christian leader, or a pastor, to look at my first post and say to themselves... "This site is designed to speak to outsiders, to people new to faith. However, we all may want to re-think that proposition. My opening statement was: Your personal relationship with Christ is the most pressing issue in the universe. That has to include you!

Mr. Pastor, or Mr/Ms Christian Leader, if you ever loose sight of that fact because of other urgent issues, you are already starting to sink. Go back, and carefully read the first three chapters of Revelation and then tell me you are getting a free pass. These chapters are a preview of the judgement seat of Christ that Paul speaks about.
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How busy are we?

Let me ask you this... As you mature in Christ, do you get more dependent on prayer and personal devotions, or less dependent because of your vast knowledge of scriture and of human behavior? Do you become more aware of your strength or of your weakness?

Look at Daniel's life. The higher he was placed up the "corporate" ladder, the more he felt he HAD to seek God 3 times a day! That doesn't just mean he was "so devoted to God that he wouldn't miss his 3 habitual prayer times" when a law was passed against prayer. It may have been that he was more afraid of trying to conduct the affairs of the Babylonian Empire without God's help than he was of the lion's den.

What about you?

Are you satisfied with the relationship with God that you are now enjoying. If you are satisfied, and don't want to start anything that may push you out of your comfort zone, you are already in trouble. You are not among those that Jesus called "Blessed."

He said, "God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him. God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice (Gr. for righteousness), for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right (or pursuing justice), for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven!... The smartest thing we can do, is go get in line with the things that He blesses, and quit trying to figure out why He is not blessing what we are doing!!!

You see, if you have lost your sense of spiritual poverty, of desperation for more of God, and you think you are rich and full and in need of nothing, you are deceived. Instead of contacting a great evangelist or pastor to pray for you, get alone with Jesus and begin to ask Him for a right heart and a fresh revelation of how things really are, you know, as He sees it. You may be surprised. I have been before... but that is a post for another day!