Weak Relationship – Weak Faith!

Matthew 7:21-23 (NLT)
21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’
23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

The words “I never knew you” are of particular importance. To know someone, requires some type of relationship with them. Then, the closer the relationship the more we know about each other. Any strong relationship will always build a platform of trust and faith in each other. However, trust, by its nature, requires time to develop. This is true of developing a strong relationship. It is easy to develop an emotional relationship – but the problem with this type – it is governed by feeling. Sometimes a wrong word or a word taken the wrong way will destroy the emotional relationship.

Someone once said, weak fellowship with God – Brings about weak faith! When we find ourselves in midst of trouble, it is not the time to try and build a relationship with God. It is not the time to exercise weak faith. When Jesus said “I never knew you”, He was declaring we never had fellowship – I don’t know who you are! Being acquainted with a person is not really getting to know that person. It takes time and effort to build a relationship and it can be hard work.

Jesus said, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ( Luke 14:26-27 NKJV). This verse is often mis-understood. The word hate – is literally translated – love less. In other words Jesus is saying, UNLESS YOU LOVE ME MORE than. Any true strong relationship will require a degree of self sacrifice. And this is true in our relationship with Jesus. Much more is required than church attendance, reading the bible or prayer. There is a strong commitment by all those involved in a strong relationship. This is true of all parties involved!

A relationship with Jesus requires more than receiving Him as Savior. We must get to know Jesus on a personal basis. We must endeavor to learn all we can about Him. True love for Jesus only comes when we really get to know Him. It requires us to study His words and His life. True relationship requires more that fellowship, more than church attendance, more than casual reading of the bible, more than praying one hour a day. True relationship with the Lord Jesus requires COMMITMENT and SACRIFICE of our self and all carnal desires! Jesus said in Luke 14:25-27 A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them, “If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple. (NLT). The first step in developing a relationship with Jesus is to develop a LOVE RELATIONSHIP with Him. Jesus goes on and says – first count the cost! Many would believe the cost is too great. They fail to see the rewards – they only see the perceived loss! They also fail to see the cost that Jesus paid for their salvation!

Pastor NewVine