What makes the Christian life work? What makes love, faith, and hope work? How do we see God’s promises come to pass in our lives? Why do some people know about God and some know God? What’s the secret to the Christian faith? I believe it is relationship. I mean relationship with God through Jesus Christ that is revealed by the Holy Spirit. If we were to look at the Scriptures and the lives of the heroes and heroines of the faith, one thing they have in common is a relationship with God.

As believers, when things don’t work out we don’t give up, but instead we try again. Why? Because we know God, and we know he is faithful. We trust Him, knowing that what He promises He will do. It’s like a child who trusts in what his daddy tells him. He trusts him because he knows his daddy through relationship and spending time with him. That child knows he is loved, protected, and provided for. When we experience God as our Father through the written Word, His Son Jesus, His works, His presence, His names, prayer, and by divine revelation, we come to know God Himself and not just about Him.

When you know God because you are in relationship with Him, you can be at peace, relax, and trust Him. When you know God is your Daddy and you are His dearly loved child, you can enjoy the Lord. Because you know God loves you and cares for you, you can communicate with Father God, be led by the Holy Spirit, and be more intimate with Jesus.

Through relationship, we can enjoy God’s presence, hear His voice, and access God’s wisdom for our lives. Knowing Him enables us to know the truth from a lie, right from wrong, and what should and shouldn’t be in our lives. Life gets really exciting when we know God and He knows us. We can share the depths of our heart with Him and He can share secrets with us. We can love, worship, and serve the Lord. Because we know Him, we can be His extension to others, thus helping them to get to know Him too.

It’s all about relationship- us relating to God and Him relating to us. That is the key to it all.

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. I John 1:3 (KJV)