DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: MARCH 24 TOPIC: KNOWING GOD PERSONALLY. SCRIPTURES: 1 Pet 3: 18; Jer. 29: 13
We were created to have fellowship with God. This fellowship is to open a channel of knowing God personally to us but because of our stubborn self-will, we choose to go our own way, and our fellowship with God broken. This self- will characterized by an attitude of active rebellion or passive indifference, is what the Bible calls sin.
How can you really know a God you can’t see? Aren’t relationships a two- way street? God created us, love us, and wants to be our friend, but there’s a problem; our sins separated us from Him – a holy God. The good news is that God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins so He could have a personal relationship with us.
Rom 3: 23, 6: 23 says: “the wages of sin is death “. Death is spiritual separation from God. *Rom 5:8, “God demonstrated His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. John 14: 6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the father, but through me.”
God has bridged the gulf that separates us from Him by sending His son, Jesus Christ, to die on the Cross in our place to pay the penalty for our sins. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as our savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives. Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins, and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the Cross for your sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith as an act of the will.
Billy Graham wrote, and I quote, “Think of a human friendship; how do we grow closer to someone on a human level? The most important way is by spending time with them, listening to them, sharing your concern with each other, and even helping them when they need help.”
And the same is true with God. When we read or hear His word, the Bible, He speaks to us. When we pray, we speak to Him.* And when we worship and obey Him, we are doing His will and participating in His work.
PRAYER POINT:
We were created to have fellowship with God, but sin broke that relationship. Father, please, amend every broken relationship caused by sin; give me an opportunity to know you personally in Jesus name.
CONFESSION:
The death of Jesus on the cross has bridged the gap between me and my God. Now, I have a personal relationship with God. Hallelujah!!!!
revmrsudenyi@hopealivechurch.
