Do you ever think about how you wish you could have a closer relationship with Christ? Do you ever think about how you want to have a closer relationship with Christ, but you do not know where to begin? If you answered yes to one of these questions, you are not alone.
In a world full of technology, money, sports, relationships, and countless other things that many people idolize, it seems as if God sometimes gets put on the back burner. Whether intentional or not, we are all guilty of putting the things of this world before Christ. We are all guilty of idolizing the things of this world. With this fact being true, we are not going to focus on it.
We are going to focus on how to know Christ on an intimate level. Knowing Christ and having a genuine relationship with him will take hard work. It will take sacrifices but is something that can and must be done.
In the book of John, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me” (ESV, 2023, John 14:6). Scripture clearly states that Christ is the answer. Knowing that Christ is the answer, how can we make him the number one priority if our life?
There are a few steps that we must take. First, you must learn to read the Bible every single day without fail. If you are a new believer or do not know where to begin, I encourage you to start by reading the book of John. In doing so, you will learn about the life of Christ. What better way to begin your lifetime of scripture reading than by falling in love with Christ himself?
After you have read the book of John, listen to the words of the great Billy Graham. In answering the question as to where to begin reading the bible after the book of John, Billy Graham says,
“Next read Acts, for it tells us what His first disciples did in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Then perhaps the letters of John and the letter to the Philippians. Then you may want to read Romans, which sets forth the great doctrines which Paul taught. “
When you begin to read scripture and become a student of the word of God, you will experience a close fellowship with him life never before. To keep the close fellowship, you must treat the reading of your Bible as the most important part of your day. The things of this word can wait. Reading your Bible cannot. It is key to having an intimate relationship with Christ.
Another step that you must take to have an intimate relationship with Christ is spending time with him in prayer and devotion. Honestly speaking, I do not pray as often as I should. But I can honestly tell that when I do pray, Christ gives me peace and comfort that is indescribable. When you go to Christ in prayer, you are not alone. Christ is there and he listens.
If you are thinking, “I do not know how to pray,” take comfort in knowing that there is not a right or a wrong way to pray. Prayer is your personal communication with God. In prayer, go to Christ and simply communicate with him what is on your heart. Share with Christ the good, the bad, and the ugly. Be honest with him.
Just like prayer is important to having an intimate relationship with Christ, so is devotion. In my mind, there are a few facets to devotion. The first facet goes with prayer. When you spend time with Christ through prayer, you must listen before you speak. In other words, you must set aside the distractions of this world and immerse yourself in the presence of the Lord God Almighty. Listen to what Christ has to say and then communicate with him.
The next facet of devotion is the act of being a student of Christ and having the desire to grow as a Christian. I personally enjoy using the YouVersion Bible App on my phone for devotions. There are countless devotions on all kinds of topics and lessons throughout the Bible. If you download the app, there are different plans that you can utilize. If you are struggling with a certain topic, then look up that topic and you will find devotion from qualified individuals. The best part of all, everything is free.
Another facet of devotion is community. Whether you have been a believer for three days or for eighty years, surrounding yourself around other believers is important. Just like the fact that reading your Bible and spending with Christ through prayer helps you grow, so does community. The fact of the matter is that we need other Christians to hold us accountable, teach us, love us, and pray for us. Immerse yourself into the word of God and do bible studies with other believers. Learn from your fellow believers.
Regardless of what you are struggling with, there is most likely someone else who has dealt with that same struggle or is struggling with it now. Be real and be honest. Let others give you Godly counsel so that you can grow. And when the time comes, you can give Godly counsel to someone else. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (ESV, 2023, Galatians 6:2). Regardless of what trials and tribulations you face, you are not alone. Not only will Christ be there, but so will your Christian community. Let them be a part of your walk with Christ.
When you can truly learn to know Christ at an intimate level, you will understand that nothing on this earth compares. Spend every day for the rest of your life finding joy and pleasure from Christ.
John Piper says, “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him.”
The things of this world will one day come to an end, but the joys and pleasure from Christ will not. Become satisfied in Christ above all else. You can enjoy things on this earth but ensure that your greatest joy comes from Christ.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to know you. Lord, I pray for those who want to know you, but do not know where to begin. Help us to learn to spend time with you every single day. Lord, I pray that every single person learns to find their joy from you. Help us to grow closer to you every day for the rest of our lives. Thank you. Amen