Jump-Start Your Relationship With Jesus Using These Simple Steps – Part 3

This is the third part of our series for the Christian seeking to improve your relationship with Jesus.  To link to Part 1, click HERE.  To link to Part 2, click HERE

In Part 2, we finished looking at the 1st of 4 steps in jump-starting your relationship with Jesus.

1. Analyze
2. Apologize
3. Adjust
4. Advocate

It can be a difficult thing to fully Analyze Your Friendship with Jesus, and it is the most time-consuming of the 4 steps.  We previously looked at Signs of a Bad Friend and Signs of a Good Friend in order for us to be more honest about our relationship.

Now that you have a more clear picture of where your relationship stands with Jesus, it is time to move on to the second step.

STEP 2 – Apologize

This is so simple to do, but for some reason, we try to deny that it needs to be done and just move on with our relationship, which is impossible.

The denial process happens for a number of different reasons:

• We refuse to acknowledge our sins/shortcomings/neglect/disorderly walk/etc
• We blame others for our actions
• We don’t think it’s necessary

So this part is really simple…each one of these reasons is masterminded by Satan himself.

It doesn’t take years of sinful ways to mar your relationship with Jesus.  You could be attending church regularly and living as good of a life as you possibly can, but not spending time in prayer with Him will put distance between you.  It takes you acknowledging whatever it has been on your part and apologizing to Jesus for you to be able to develop the fullest relationship possible.

What comes after your apology?  Forgiveness.

FORGIVENESS!

Jesus is ready and waiting to start fresh with you.  That’s who He is.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness, (1 John 1:9).

So, right now, acknowledge the part you have played in creating distance between you and God.  Now ask God to forgive you.  Ask Him to place in you a new heart full of passion and desire for a relationship with Him.

The best friends you have ever had in your life apologized to you when it was warranted.

STEP 3 – Adjust

To apologize for one’s behavior and not make adjustments thereafter is a hollow act.

When you feel true sorrow for your actions, you make changes in your life so that you don’t do it again.

I’ve been in this position, and when I set out to have a different relationship with Jesus, I made it a mission to find out how.  I prayed earnestly for Godly wisdom, a fire in my heart, renewed passion and faith.  I read books on prayer, watched some Christian movies, listened to Christian radio, and began to read my Bible like I never had before.

I’m not perfect.  Far from it.  But I set out to fulfill myself as a Christian because I knew there was more to it than the way I had been living.  And let me tell you something my friend…God changed me.  I didn’t change me.  I adjusted my behavior and sought Him earnestly like never before, and HE CHANGED ME!

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened, (Matthew 7:7-8).

At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, (Ephesians 5:9).

Believers, He will change you too.  Adjust your life to better your relationship with Him and He will change you.

STEP 4 – Advocate for Jesus

Another word for advocate is…Apostle.

A person who supports an idea or cause publicly.  There is no greater cause than Jesus, and if you are a Christian you have been called by His Great Commission to spread the Gospel.

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age, (Matthew 28:18-20).

These are the words of Jesus Himself.  Brothers and Sisters, Jesus has called you to be an Apostle.

Maybe you haven’t really understood that before.  Maybe you are afraid of it.  Maybe you have been refusing to fulfill it.  Whatever the case may be for you, if you have not been an Apostle for Jesus now is the time for you to start.

We all have different gifts.  God gave them to us.  We are not all called to preach.  We are not all artists.  We are not all singers.  We are not all teachers.  Whatever gift God gave you, He meant for you to use it to fulfill the Great Commission.

 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, (Ephesians 4:11-12).

You can do that in so many ways in your daily life.  Don’t hide the light you have within yourself.  Let it shine as a beacon to the world.

That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, (Philippians 2:15).

If you have a friend you would not acknowledge publicly, I would question whether or not this person was really your friend.  Jesus is no different.  You cannot say that you love Him and refuse to acknowledge Him to the world.

For your own sake…for His sake…be His Apostle.

TO SUM IT UP

I began this series because I felt there may be some Christians who don’t know how to have the most fulfilling relationship with Jesus they can.  “Jump-Start Your Relationship With Jesus Using These Simple Steps” turned out to have 3 parts!  For some, that may seem like the steps are not as simple as advertised.  Truth is…they are simple.  You just have to be willing to honestly take each step.

• STEP 1: Analyze your friendship with Jesus
• STEP 2: Apologize for your mistakes and be awarded forgiveness by Jesus
• STEP 3: Adjust your life to improve your relationship with Him
• STEP 4: Advocate for your Savior

Improve your relationship with Jesus using these simple steps and change your life in the process.

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