CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 889

“A Love Relationship”

Uzziah…did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…He set himself to seek God…and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper…But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God… (2 Chronicles 26:3-5;16)

Many marriages fail because they were never based upon a true love relationship. They may have married for money or sex or power and position. They may have married out of duty – doing the ‘right thing’ for their unborn child. Regardless of the reason, if the marriage is not founded on the bedrock of a true love relationship, for better or for worse, etc. then it is in jeopardy of failing when the currency of the original transaction is gone. As Christians, we are the ‘Bride of Christ’. Jesus truly loves us. Is His love reciprocated in our relationship with Him or are we transacting along some other line?

Pagan worship in ancient times, and perhaps to the present day in some parts of the world, involve sacrifices being made to their ‘god’ not in worship based upon love, but rather to appease their ‘god’ and obtain favor. Things were given in order to receive. Pagan worship was more of a ‘business transaction’ along the lines of extortion.

It sounds harsh, but are many of us much different? It all boils down to the motive of the heart. Why do you serve Jesus? Uzziah served until he became powerful and prosperous, then he acted as if he did not need the Lord anymore. Do we seek the Lord wholeheartedly while we are in desperate need and after He blesses and makes a way for us, do we then take Him for granted and neglect Him? Do you become embittered and question His love for you during protracted times of trial? Is the true motive of your heart to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness or the blessings that He can provide?

Simon tried to buy the Gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:17-21) His heart was not right before God. Are you playing church, obedient with monetary tithe and offerings, serving here and there yet lacking a deep, loving, personal relationship with Jesus as your Lord? You cannot buy or transact through works into this relationship. It is similar to buying lots of things for your children, but never being there for them on a personal level based upon love. The things you give become empty and meaningless. Your children want you and your love – not your things. So does God.

Is your prayer life powerful and effective? Some Jews attempted to exercise God’s power by proxy: ‘In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches…’ (Acts 19:13-16) They lacked the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit that comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and were beaten.

Spend some quiet time with the Lord and take stock of your walk with Him. How close a relationship do you have? Are you close enough to Jesus to hear and feel His heartbeat? Can you discern the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life? Pray for a steadfast heart that seeks Jesus not for what He can do for you, but rather for who He is to you – your Lord and Savior. May your relationship with Him be based upon true love now and for eternity.