“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” John 17:3
It is interesting to read the various books out today dealing with building a life of purpose and significance. Some of these works are very good and offer us new ideas and strategies on how we can shape our lives. The research I did in developing Finishing Well – Finishing Strong allowed me to consider this topic at a deeper level.
Scripture tells us that the purposeful life, the life of significance, and the life that is modeled after Christ comes from having an intimate relationship with the Almighty. God’s desire for you and me is to know Him and make Him known through our actions, attitudes, and desires.
Our finite minds will never completely grasp the depth of understanding needed to completely know God. Just ponder two traits of His many traits; such as, His omnipresence and His omniscience. I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around those qualities and how they are manifested in His power.
Charles Stanley recently addressed the question of God’s Desire For You and Me by stating that “God created us for personal relationship with each one of us. Many people do not understand how God could possibly love them. They feel as though they have fallen too far to be loved by God. Or perhaps they mistakenly believe that they have sinned in some way that would keep them from experiencing God’s intimate care.”
Stanley went on to say, “But this is not true. God loves each one of us with an unconditional love. He accepts us when we come to Him and He forgives our sin when we turn from it and tell Him that we need Him.”
The reality is that God actually desires to know us and build a friendship with us. In John 15:14.we read, “The more we know Him the more we love Him and desire to become more like Him.” In 1 Peter we read that the Lord is holy; in fact, we even read the command, “Be holy, because I am holy” 1:16. And Paul in his letter to the Ephesians reminds us that we were called to a new way of life. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness:” (Eph. 4:22-24)
Yes, my friend – our response to God’s love is to become holy. For me that is a challenge I face every day. I must consider my failures in light of His grace and repent of my sin so that I can grow in my godly character. I don’t know about you, but I feel like I need several life-times to work through all my stuff. Thank God for the sacrifice of His Son on Calvary’s Cross that allowed an imperfect man like me to become perfect in God’s sight.
Personal Application:
What is one thing you would like to work on this next week to become more like Christ?
How can you demonstrate a life of obedience to His word and begin a process of transition to become a “new self”?
As you mentor someone else are you willing to share your brokenness and how God helped you overcome your battle with a particular sin?
Jim Grassi, D. Min.