Rate Your Relationship

Prayer ~ Lord God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—I want a right relationship with You. Open my eyes and my heart to show me ways to grow closer to You.

 

I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. 2 John 1:5-9

 

Meditate. Rate your relationship with God.

 

I’m sure at some time in your life someone has asked you to rate your relationship with another person—either your spouse, significant other, children, parents, teachers, professors, boss, co-workers, or friends. Give a one to three rating in the categories below with one being a little and three being a lot:

1.       I know I am saved.

2.       Want to know more about God.

3.       Want to spend time with God – reading His word.

4.       Want to spend time with others discussing what you have learned this week about God.

5.       Time spent in prayer…with God the Father, with Jesus Christ, or with the Holy Spirit.

 Do you have a separate relationship with each of the Trinity? I think it is easiest to have a relationship with Jesus—He is approachable. He has feelings like humans since He was human for over thirty years—and He understands us. The Bible is filled with passages about Jesus in the Old and New Testaments—prophesying and giving us facts about Him. Christmas and Easter are all about Christ. He was born and died for our sins. Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? Knowing the sacrifice He willingly made—even before He created the earth—is such an awesome thought. Greater love has no man than he lay down his life for his friend. That is Jesus’ relationship with us. How much are we willing to give to Him? Our time, talents, resources? It all belongs to Him anyway. Like God the Father, Jesus Christ is always listening for us to call upon Him—for us to share our cares, concerns, and celebrations with Him.

 

God the Father has seemed a bit more austere as He is the God Almighty. Although He loves us so much that He sent His Son as a sacrifice for our sin, God the Father was at one time not as approachable to me. After years of Bible study and intentional devotion to God the Father, I am now comfortable in my relationship with Him. We give honor to God the Father. Consider how many times you’ve prayed the Lord’s Prayer…Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…. It honors God the Father. Do you seek to know the Father more intimately? Do you speak casually with Him throughout the day? He is always listening…waiting for you to speak to Him.

 

The Holy Spirit is special—my rememberer—teaching and reminding me of God’s word, helping me apply it to my life—and helping me find things.

But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ. 1 John 2:27

I’ve felt for years that this part of God is most often overlooked. He gives glory to God the Son and to God the Father—never Himself. Even though growing up we sang the Gloria Patri…glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost…there was never any other focus on the Holy Spirit.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

Now, what about your relationship with the Holy Spirit? Do you have one? If not, now is a good time to establish that connection. You can pray to the Holy Spirit, just like you pray to God the Father, or to Jesus. Honor them all three today. Then rate your relationship.

 

Verses of Salvation ~ But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you. You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14-15

 

Memory Verse of the Week ~ What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31

 

Did you memorize this verse…or teach it to someone else?

 

© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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