Artikel BEING CLOSE TO JESUS

Diana Butler Bass used to bring a Bible to school, and thus she was asked, “Are you a religious fanatic? Diana responded, “I am not religious, I have got a relationship with God. I don’t really like religion. Religion keeps us away from Jesus.” It is very true that without relationship with God, our faith is reduced to rituals. Christianity is not about being baptized and adopt it as a religion. However, it is about following Christ, to whom we relate to. It is not merely about having christian worldview, but to walk closely with the Lord.

We are not designed to live independently, instead to be dependent on our Creator. This relationship that is connected through faith, is a dependent relationship. We are depending on our Creator. Thus, we are no in control of our lives, but we belong to Him and are accountable to Him.

Ahaz did not want to relate to God. Even in time of trouble, Ahaz chose to be unfaithful to God (2 Chronicles 28:22). Ahaz and his people were anxious due to the incoming attack from the king of Israel and the king of Aram (Isaiah 7:2). Interestingly, the Lord offered help to king Ahaz by offering him prayer through prophet Isaiah, yet he rejected, “I will not ask” (Isaiah 7:12). Ahaz rejected help from the Lord, he preferred help from the king of Assyrians. Isaiah felt sad by Ahaz’s response, and hence he asked, “Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?” (Isaiah 7:13). In times of trouble, Ahaz chose to hurt the heart of the Lord. He preferred to depend on Assyria than the Creator. Ahaz depended on Assyria, a huge nation to solve his problem. As a consequence, he had to become the vassal of Assyrians. Though huge, Assyria was but only a tiny bee for the Lord (Isaiah 7:18).

The gift of eternal life (John 10:28) is based upon relationship with the Lord (John 10:27). Religious duties are not enough, but knowing and being known by the Lord. Simply speaking, it is about relationship with the Lord. Believing God is not about believing about God but being in relationship with Him.

The disciples of Jesus were watching Jesus praying. It was not their first time seeing Jesus praying. They might have been attracted by Jesus’ close relationship with the Father. They waited patiently for Jesus to finished praying. They asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray.” In response to their request, Jesus taught them to pray; One relationship with three needs. Relationship with God who is Father. Physical needs (food, drink, clothing), spiritual need (forgiveness of sin and restoration of relationship) and soul need (protection from the evil one).

Then Jesus also gave them a parable of prayer. In desperate need of bread, the man knocked on the door of his friend’s house to wake him up late at night. The message of the parable is simply, God is not like that neighbor who feels disturbed by his friend at night. This is enforced and emphasized by the principle of prayer that Jesus gave, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luk. 11:13).

The central point of Jesus’ message is about asking for the Holy Spirit. This demonstrates the key to prayer (being close to God) is to ask for the Holy Spirit from Father (Luk. 11:13). Relationship with the Lord is our privilege. Faith incorporates trust, surrender and obedience. There won’t be any trust nor surrender without relationship. Word and prayer is the key to close relationship with God (Acts 2:42). He calls us to be close to Him.

Ps. Lan Yong Xing