We all have relationships, some are with those we come in contact with on a daily basis, such as work, school, or family. God made us to be relational people. We find the beginning of that concept in Genesis 3:8 where God came to walk with Adam and Eve in the garden. The wording of this chapter leads us to believe that it was customary for God to walk with them. However, this time they would not welcome His presence because they had broken fellowship with Him by disobeying the one thing God forbid them to do. They were not to eat of the tree in the middle of the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This one-on-one, sweet, personal time with their creator was now broken because they chose the lie instead of obedience. This disobedience not only caused them to destroy this sweet communion it caused them to be put out of the perfect home God had created for them. When God came to walk with them that evening, they hid from him. Their guilt, a feeling they had never had before, caused them to hide.
Genesis 2:16-17 “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eats thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”
A relationship shows a connectedness to one another, and now Adam and Eve had destroyed the personal aspect of their relationship with God. However, God desired a relationship with mankind so much that had a plan to restore that relationship. We could not mend our broken relationship on our own. A perfect and holy God longed for us, but He could not violate His holiness. His love was so great that he gave His perfect holy Son to pay the price for our sin so that we could be restored to a personal relationship with Him.
John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
God’s restoration of a personal relationship is only through His Son Jesus. In John 14:6, Jesus proclaims that He is the way to God. He is the truth and the life, and no one can have a relationship with the Father unless they go through Him. Then, and only then can we experience an intimate personal relationship with God. This relationship is a one-on-one relationship that no one can establish for us, and no one can prohibit us from it. When we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we are immediately given access to God as our Father. We are privileged to cry out to Him as Jesus did in Mark 14:36. He cried Abba Father. Abba means Father, in essence, Jesus is saying Father my Father. It is a word for Father that shows a relationship that is intimate. I have stated in other devotionals that I have used this term to pray to God when I need to be held by him. My imagery envisions me as a little child climbing up into my father’s lap where I am safe, secure, and loved. That’s what a personal relationship provides with God.
John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life and no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Mark 14:36 “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt.”
Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”
When we have a personal relationship with God everything about us is engaged, our emotions, our thinking, our desires, and our physical bodies. Everything becomes clearer and more meaningful when having a relationship with Him. Our relationship with Him grows and others will see there is something different about us. As we grow our relationship with God, we become more like His Son. Many claim to be Christians, but they only have a religion, not a relationship. Many will have a religion and follow the rules but still die and go to Hell. However, those who have a personal relationship will serve and grow from that relationship and have eternal life in Heaven. Their service will not be static or stale, it will fill them and enable them to also have better relationships with others, The personal relationship that we have with God changes everything for the better.
