Same Old Relationship

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and forever.  Hebrews 13:8

Randy and I grew up in different home towns, and each of us had special friends there.  We both went to college at Georgia, and we each had special friends and relationships there.  After we married, we moved for school and for church appointments approximately seven times, and we each had mutual as well as different friends in each place.

We have been most fortunate to make life long friends, and we cherish each and every relationship.  There are friends close by that we love as family, and we know the ties that bind us are strong.  However, there are those unique friendships which withstand the test of time, distance, and separation which seem to have a quality all their own.  When we get together with these folks, it’s as though time has stood still, and we take up right where we left off years ago!  It’s comfortable and easy, it’s fun and relaxing, it’s full of laughter and tears.  We know them so well that there is no need to try and impress each other, we just love and celebrate our time together.

I think God would want that kind of relationship with each of us, so what is the secret to that kind of relationship?

The story is told of a college professor whose beautiful life was a wonder to his students.  Some of them desired to learn the secret to his life, so they sent someone to hide in his study to observe his evening ritual.  When the professor came home, it was late and he was tired, but he spent an hour reading his Bible.  Then, he lowered his head to pray, and he was heard to say, “Well, Lord Jesus, we still have the same old relationship.”  What a great thing to know that God is unchanging!

There are so many times when I neglect my Bible study and my prayer life and substitute trivial things.  It comforts me to realize that when I return to my Bible and my prayers, Jesus is waiting for me and offering the same old relationship.  The relationship is comfortable, loving, sustaining, exciting, fascinating, peaceful, and strong.  It makes me realize how much I miss it when I neglect it.

Just as we cultivate and sustain personal relationships, above all else, we should cultivate and sustain our relationship with Christ.  He becomes more real to each of us when we spend time with him.  Talk with Him just like you would a dear and trusted friend.

Now, let’s have a little talk with Jesus; Let us tell him all about our troubles;             He will hear our faintest cry, and He will answer by and by                                             Now when you feel a little prayer wheel turning,                                                               You’ll know a little fire is burning and                                                                                     You’ll find a little talk with Jesus makes it right.                                                                    Just A Little Talk With Jesus   The Statler Brothers