God wants us to keep a faithful relationship with him. In doing so, he wants us to comply with what is written in Micah 6: 8 he has told you, O mortals, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God. That relationship is one of friendship through Christ Jesus. Jesus said in John 15: 15 I have called you friends because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. Not surprisingly, in Luke 7: 34 Jesus was called a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
How to start a relationship with Jesus
Jesus said in John 15: 14 you are my friends if you do what I command you. First, we must know what he wants of us. He also said in Mathew 12: 30; Luke 11: 23 whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. We are to gather and not to scatter his lot. James showed what makes one a friend or enemy of God. James 4: 4 says Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. We cannot have a relationship with Christ Jesus when the world is also our friend.
In the above passage, adulterers mean spiritually promiscuity or flirts with worldly pleasures, sin or darkness whilst in a relationship with Christ Jesus. Such conduct is not in keeping with the tenets of a faithful relationship. Quoting Jesus, John wrote in Revelation 3: 16 so because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, am about to spit you out of my mouth. His name is Jealous in Exodus 34: 14. He is a jealous God in Exodus 20: 5; Deuteronomy 5: 9. He shows jealous wrath in Ezekiel 36: 5-6. In Ezekiel 39: 25 his jealousy is for his holy name. We must not confuse jealousy with envy.
How to maintain a relationship with Jesus
David found the ways of keeping a relationship with God. He wrote in Psalm 25: 4, 5, and 21. They are, knowing God’s ways and paths; knowing God’s truth; acknowledging God’s salvation; and seeking preservation in integrity and uprightness in God. We will discuss them as follows:
Knowing God’s ways and paths
David wrote in Psalm 25: 4, make me know your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths. In order to maintain a worthy relationship, one has to know the other’s character, likes and dislikes. David sought from God his way of life so he could align with him. A number of us have traversed because we have not taken pains to find out God’s way for us. God said in Hosea 4:6, my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. David sought to know the way of the Lord and lived by it. What about us?
Teach me your paths mean let me walk in God’s way of life. A number of us are not ready to adapt to God’s way and paths. Jesus said in Matthew 7: 13 enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. The way of Christ is the narrow way. Jesus said in Luke 13: 24 strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. We need the Holy Spirit to go the narrow way. Jesus said in John 14: 6, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Simply put, Jesus wants us to live through him. Are we ready?
Knowing the truth of God
David wrote in Psalm 25: 5, lead me in your truth, and teach me… David knew that the truth of God was the foundation of a lasting relationship. He found God to be truthful, hence he requested God to lead him to attain that pedigree. He also wanted to be taught its nuances because he knew that God’s truth was not ordinary but only God could impart it. David was ready to be taught the value of God’s truth.
Jesus is the picture of God’s truth. John 14: 6 says I am … the truth. He also said in John 8: 32, you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. Whoever knows Jesus becomes a free person in the spirit. Perhaps our misconception is that David lived long before Jesus. Yet in clear explanation, Jesus said in Matthew 22: 44; Mark 12: 36; Luke 20: 42, David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.” Jesus was before David.
Led by the Holy Spirit long before Jesus’ birth, David knew Jesus as Lord. We need the Holy Spirit to expound God’s truth to us so we can maintain a worthy relationship with Jesus Christ. David wrote in Psalms 119: 160 the sum of your word is truth. It is also written in John 17: 17 sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. We need the truth of God in order to relate with Jesus. We must be alive to God’s truth for 2 Corinthians 11: 14 says Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Are we led to God’s truth?
Seeking God’s salvation
David wrote in Psalm 25: 5… you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. In a relationship with God, we acknowledge him as superior. David meant salvation in two respects, physically and spiritually. David knew God as the Saviour and Creator. He saved the world through Noah in the foods that destroyed the earth. He saved Israel from Goliath and the Philistines, from slavery in Egypt, and in the battles towards the promised land. God also always provided their needs and healed their diseases.
In troubled times, they turned to him. It is written in 2 Samuel 3: 18, through my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines, and from all their enemies. For salvation of his soul, David prayed in Psalms 139: 24 see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. He needed a soul redeeming experience from the Lord so he confessed his sins in Psalms 38: 18, I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. He wrote in Psalms 51: 2 wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from any sin. We can also be washed in the blood if we submit to Jesus.
In order to keep our relationship with God, we must maintain God’s character of holiness. Leviticus 11: 45; 19: 2; 20: 26; 1 Peter 1: 16 says you shall be holy, for I am holy. We read also in Leviticus 20: 7 that consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am the LORD your God. Holiness comes from the cleansing of the soul through forgiveness in the blood of Christ Jesus. Acts 4: 12 says there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved. David was wise to save his soul with God, what about us?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we desire a relationship with you for the safety of our souls in eternity. Please help us to know you more and to choose your path of righteousness. Let your truth be our guide in our daily walk with you so we may inherit your peace in your blood. Open our minds to learn of you so we may be wise to affect the world for your glory and honour. Mercifully hear us in your holy name, Amen!!
