DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD?

SCRIPTURE:
Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. 
The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love 
them and show myself to them. (John 14:21)
 
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have 
kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 
(John 15:10)

MEDITATION:
The value of relationships 
is often determined by the level of love between two people.
This is true in a marriage, but it can also be true in friendships.
If there is no love from either party, 
then the relationship is probably doomed to fail.
If love only exists in one half of a relationship, 
then it is still lacking something very valuable.
However, if there is love from both people, 
then the relationship is very promising.

Where there is love, there is evidence of commitment.
Where there is love, there is evidence of patience and tolerance.
Where there is love, there is evidence of forgiveness and understanding.
Where there is love, there is evidence of caring and concern.
Where there is love, there is evidence of sacrifice and selflessness.

This describes quality relationships between two people, 
but it also describes a quality relationship with the Lord.
We know that He has patience and tolerance for us, 
because He loves us unconditionally.

We know that He is forgiving, 
because He established a plan of salvation for everyone.
We know that He is understanding, 
because He is patient with us even when we fail.

We know that He is caring and concerned, 
because He gave us His Word to show us how to improve our life.
We know that He is sacrificial and selfless, because He gave His Only Son for us.
He has made a full commitment to every individual 
and He wants everyone to avoid eternal punishment at death, 
and to enjoy a relationship with Him while we live.

We know that the Lord has fulfilled His ‘side’ of the relationship equation, 
but what about the other ‘side’ - us?
Are we nourishing our relationship with the Lord?
Are we patience and tolerant with Him when we don’t understand His ways?

Do we forgive ourselves in the same manner that He forgives us?
We may be thankful that He forgives us, but for various reasons 
we cannot forgive ourselves, or fully accept His forgiveness.
Do we try to be understanding of Him 
whenever He leads us in a particular direction?

He may ask us to leave our ‘comfort zone’ to do something He wants us to do.
Do we balk and find reasons why it is not a good idea, or do we 
exercise understanding, and trust that He knows what He doing?
If He didn’t want us to experience His best, 
then He would not have given us His Word as His "life instruction" book.

Are we as sacrificial and selfless as He has been with us?
We can claim to love the Lord, but then raise questions about our love 
whenever it requires sacrificing anything for Him, including time or money.
Overcoming selfishness 
could be one of the greatest struggles for many Christians.
Yet, He is selfish for us 
in a good way – He wants us to be the best, and have His best.

The last area of concern 
regarding our relationship with the Lord is our level of commitment. 
Jesus left no doubt 
of His commitment – He went to the cross and gave His life for us.
However, there are believers who 
are not willing to give their life for Him in return.
Unfortunately, some try to fit the Lord into their own lives and desires, 
instead of fitting their lives into His world and His commands.

As a result, some select the commands they choose to obey 
and discard the others through justification.
For instance, God made it clear that He wants all believers 
to meet together to support each other and to worship Him.
But some will say, "I can worship the Lord just fine by myself!"

That is true, and we should worship Him alone 
in addition to worshipping with others, 
but that is not obeying His command – and shows a lack of "total" commitment.
God doesn’t want us to only ‘go to church’, He wants us to ‘be His church’, 
and we cannot do that by worshipping alone.
If all believers chose to ignore His command, then there would be NO churches. 

ACTION:
How is your love relationship with the Lord?
What is your commitment level?
Do you expect all His blessings as a reward for partial commitment?
God has given us His commandments and some of them can be hard to obey.

However, we should never stop trying our best to obey them 
and prove to ourselves that we do, in fact, love Him in totality.
Jesus tells us how we can determine if we fail to love Him.
Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you 
hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. (John 14:24)

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for Your undeniable love for me. Thank You 
for loving me when I feel unlovable, thank You for forgiving me when I feel 
unforgivable, and thank You for blessing me when I feel I don’t deserve Your 
blessings. Thank You, Jesus for showing me what sacrificial love looks like 
by going to the cross for me. Forgive me if I have created a list of commands 
I will obey and have justified not obeying others. Help me to be as totally 
committed to You, as You are to me. I pray that You will 'renew my mind' so
that I will observe Your commands in the right way, and my relationship with
You will increase.”