The apostle Paul said that he counted everything else as rubbish so that he could know Christ (Phil. 3:8).
Learning how to know more Christ is a wise thing to do. And It is impossible to really get to know Jesus without longing to be like Him.
Growing in your relationship with Jesus means to know Him better and to love and obey Him more. When the Holy Spirit directs your life, you experience a deeper relationship with God and you will grow in your ability to trust Him. Not only that, your growing love for God will lead you to obey His commandments. Just as it’s natural for a child’s relationship with her parent to change and grow, it’s also natural for your relationship with God to grow.
So How can you Have a Deeper Relationship with Jesus?
A. Knowing Him Personally
Communication is the key to any relationship. And with God, it’s no different! Here are two ways you can communicate with Him to Know Him personally.
1. Read the Bible
God communicates through the Scriptures, revealing His character and His will. The Bible isn’t just another ancient book; it’s inspired by God. So whenever you read it, the Holy Spirit will speak through its words.
2. Pray
Prayer is just another word for talking to God. He wants to hear your thoughts, needs, and desires. You can talk to Him about everything; He hears you and answers you, too. Plus, prayer is a way you can thank God for all He is doing in your life.
B. To Love Him
It has often rightly been said that Christianity is not a religion. It is a personal relationship with the living God. Personal relationships do not run on autopilot (doing something without making an effort).
The Lord said, (Rev. 2:4), “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” He was probably referring to their love for Him. But the way you keep your love for Christ fresh is to remember His great love for you. Never get over the wonder that the eternal Son of God loved you and gave Himself for you!
It’s easy to have an exciting relationship when you first fall in love, but it takes deliberate effort to keep your marriage close and growing as the years go on. The same is true in your relationship with the Lord. When you first come to Christ, it’s new and exciting. But, it’s easy to lose that first love for Christ and to grow distant in your relationship with Him. It becomes a routine or ritual. You aren’t growing to know Him more intimately. So, you need to pray with Paul for yourself and for other believers, that God “may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him” (1:17).
C. To Obey Him
John 15:10: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
He plainly states that to abide in His love, you must keep His commandments. The flip side is, you’re not abiding in His love if you’re living in disobedience to His commandments. It’s relatively easy to obey the Lord when things are going well. But the test of obedience is when He takes you through difficult trials. At such times, you may not understand why these trials are happening, but like Abraham walking to Mount Moriah to sacrifice Isaac, you have to trust Him and obey.
Message
Is spending time with God in His Word a priority to you? Knowing God is your supreme need. The your goal should be to know Him more and more.
I want you to think about your relationship with Christ. If you don’t have one, you can begin by coming to the cross as a repentant sinner and believing in His death and resurrection for you. If your love for Jesus has grown lukewarm or cold, get back into His Word and prayer this week. Make it a daily priority. Make it your aim to live to glorify the Father by bearing much fruit. Dwell in Christ’s love; obey His commandments; and stay focused on His joy. These are Christ’s prescription for you to grow closer to Him.
BiBoSouL 