Everyone wants to connect with something or someone. Just looking around, it doesn't take long to realize that so much of society is built on connections; especially with all the newer inventions of Facebook, Twitter, Texting and other forms of electronic connecting. From a newborn baby that connects with its mother right after birth, to immediate family connections with parents and siblings, to kids connecting with friends, to dating, perhaps marriage and then starting a family of their own; the human life cycle is all about connecting and relationships.
Jesus Christ shows us the way in connecting well – both with the Father and with each other. He knew perfectly how to connect with his friends and his family. The more important connection we can learn from him however, is the one he had with his heavenly Father. He knew how important it was to spend time with him as we read in this piece:
“…With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night. He stayed there alone, late into the night.” (Matthew 14:22b The Message)
He connected with his Father through prayer – a way of communicating that Jesus himself showed us how to do. Simply put, prayer is talking directly to God. We don't have to do it through anyone else, we can talk to him ourselves, the same as if I am talking to someone on the phone, or face to face with a friend for that matter. Jesus modeled it throughout his time here on earth, as seen above and in other places in his Word.
It is through prayer that we connect with God and have a relationship with him. When I pray to God, I connect with the most important living being in the universe. That is possible because of what Jesus did – dying on a cruel cross and then rising again from the dead to free us from all the wrongdoings I or we have ever done, or will do. I can talk or pray to God, telling him I want to be free and forgiven of all my wrong doings (called 'sin' in his Word) and thanking him for doing that for me. I am showing faith in him when I do that, it is that faith that gives me that direct connection or relationship with God. This is what is known as becoming a 'child of God' as he is now our heavenly Father. He cannot be our heavenly Father, however, unless we exercise this act of faith and ask him this.
“…By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God…” (Galatians 3:25a The Message)
This part from God's Word below shows the difference before that act of faith and after if it is carried through.
“It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.” (Titus 3:3 The Message)
Being “new people,” as this version of God's Word puts it, is the greatest thing. We now know why we are here, why we need God and we now have purpose in our lives. In our next article, we'll explore that new connection with God and how to make it closer and more intimate with Him.
If you have any thoughts or questions, I would encourage you to write me at gloriawes@hotmail.com, and I will be glad to get back to you.
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