God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.
Acts 17: 27 (NIV)
Scripture: I Timothy 6
Relationships take work, sometimes hard work. The same can be said of our relationship with God. This devotion looks at the care we must take to ensure we are seeking God.
Adam took great care moving Dragon Box today. He made it in Art class when he was a sophomore or junior in high school. He has always been so proud of how it turned out. It sits in a prominent position on his desk.
This is the fourth move in which Dragon Box — and Adam — have taken part. Every time, Adam carries it on his lap from the old place to the new place. He takes special care that it is not broken because it easily could be.
Important Things Need Our Time
While we were traversing the seven blocks from the old place to the new place, I got to thinking how Adam’s actions could be applied to a relationship.
Adam didn’t just put the ceramic piece into a bin and wrap it up tightly. He kept it with him on his lap. He kept it in his hands.
When we are in a relationship with someone — either significant other or friendship — we have to take time to be with that person. Especially at the beginning of the relationship but at all times, a time commitment is needed to get to know each other.
We do that several ways. Face to face is always important, but sometimes that isn’t always an option. Then we rely on phone calls, emails, and text and instant messages. No matter how we connect the other person, that connection needs to be nurtured.
We Need to Take Great Care with Others
What really struck me with Adam and Dragon Box was that he was very careful with it. He kept tight hold on it. He didn’t leave anything to chance.
Adam knows I am a careful driver, but he also knows things could happen that aren’t under my control. So, he did everything in his power to make sure Dragon Box made the trip intact.
Sometimes, one of the parties in a relationship may not be willing to take the effort to make sure the relationship remains intact. Relationships are work! Sometimes, though, we don’t think they should be.
I wonder if some people equate the work the relationship needs with drama. Do they think that a relationship just runs on its own once it is established? Is anything over that “normal maintenance” termed “drama” in their minds?
We have to be careful with others. We have to take their thoughts and feelings into consideration. We have build their trust in and respect for us.
To me, respect is something that needs to be earned. I hope I earn people’s respect because I do what is right, they can value my word, and I hold others in high regard. We have to build that respect in a relationship. One has to be able to see the other person’s integrity.
To trust someone is to be able to rely on their character, ability, and strength. If Dragon Box was something other than a ceramic catch-all, it would be able to rely on Adam having its best interest in mind and the care with which he handled it.
Our Relationship with God
We have a relationship with God. We have to spend time with Him. Matthew 6: 33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (NIV). The “these things” this verse is referring to are food, drink, and clothing — daily essentials.
Solomon sought God’s kingdom first. In I Kings 3: 5, God told Solomon that he could ask for anything he wanted, and God would give it to him.
What Solomon asked for was a discerning heart so that he could govern the Israelite people (I Kgs. 3: 9). He wanted to make sure he did right by others. He put God first, others second, and his wants and needs third.
In order to have a relationship with God, we have to read His Word, pray to Him, and seek Him out in a gathering of fellow believers. We have to work at ensuring that we are living in His Will.
We can’t just sit back and let God fork over all the good things in life. We have to live for Him, do as He asks, and follow His guidelines. We have to take care to nurture our relationships with Him.
We can trust God. James 4: 8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you …” (NIV). We can trust that He will never leave us. Deuteronomy 31: 6 says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (NIV).
Our relationship with God does take time and energy. But when we seek Him, He rewards us with what we need. Second Peter 1: 3-4 says, “His divine power has granted us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature” (RSV).
God wants us to seek Him and grow to be more as we were intended — the image of Him. That takes time and effort. But it is worth it.
God. You want us to seek You. You want us to be intentional in looking for You. You want us to know You. Help us to grow our relationships with You. Amen.
To Adam, it was worth it taking extra care to get Dragon Box to the new place. He got it here in one piece. In fact, we were able to get everything moved over and turn in the keys to the old place. So, we are all moved in!!! Doesn’t it look like it?
What do you think? Do you consider that you have a relationship with God? Do you have another term for it? How would you describe it? Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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Elaine you have been on my mind a lot the past few days and I have been meaning to tell you how much I am enjoying your blog, but mostly the respect I have for your Bible knowledge and your willingness to share it. I really enjoyed today’s thought provoking message. I so like how you tied our relationship with God with parallels of relationships with family/friends. And on a personal note I love that you can have such a big smile on your face with such a big job ahead of you. Blessings to you and Adam.
Oh, sweetie! You have been on my mind, too, this past week. I think a part of me has wanted for years a way to share these devotions. I just didn’t know how to. Then when God first started telling me “now is the time,” I kept getting closed doors. It got to the point where I was questioning if it was Satan talking to me, pretending to be God. I am glad that they resonate with you. Gotta smile. My joy is not in the circumstances — or stuffed living room. It is that God provided something bigger, better, and cheaper!