The Prodigal's Returnናሙና

Relationship

Kim Harmon

[Hebrews 7:15-22 MSG] But the Melchizedek story provides a perfect analogy: Jesus, a priest like Melchizedek, not by genealogical descent but by the sheer force of resurrection life—he lives!—“priest forever in the royal order of Melchizedek.” The former way of doing things, a system of commandments that never worked out the way it was supposed to, was set aside; the law brought nothing to maturity. Another way—Jesus!—a way that does work, that brings us right into the presence of God, is put in its place. The old priesthood of Aaron perpetuated itself automatically, father to son, without explicit confirmation by God. But then God intervened and called this new, permanent priesthood into being with an added promise: God gave his word; he won’t take it back: “You’re the permanent priest. ”This makes Jesus the guarantee of a far better way between us and God—one that really works! A new covenant.

From the beginning of time, God has wanted a relationship with you. Read that again. From the beginning of time, God has wanted a relationship with you. God created us. All of creation has rule and order because God created it. Creation is amazing. There are seasons of weather. Giraffes have long necks so they can reach leaves to eat. Chameleons change colors in order to protect themselves from predators. You do not have to look far to be amazed by God’s creation. The God who placed the moon wants a relationship with YOU.

Because God loves us, He gave us rules to live by. We quickly broke them. In Hebrews 7, I love how God says the rules “brought nothing to maturity. Another way – Jesus! A way that does work, that brings us right into the presence of God is put in its place. ”God gave us rules, we broke them. We broke them easily because rules do not require a relationship. Then, He gave us Jesus. Rules do not bring maturity. Jesus brings us maturity. Jesus brings us a way that works. Why does Jesus work? Because He wants a relationship with you. I believe God speaks to our hearts when we read His word. I believe He hears us every time we pray to Him. I believe He asks us to go to church with other believers because we need encouragement.

God wants you to read the Bible so He can speak to YOU. Every time you speak to Him, He listens. He says in Romans 8:26 that the Holy Spirit will interpret our wordless groans when we do not know what to pray. That is an amazing God. When you are at your lowest point and do not even have words, God loves you so much that the Holy Spirit makes sense of prayers full of “wordless groans.”

Because we are in a relationship with God, we do not have to have a rule book. We only need Jesus. He brings us maturity. He brings us a better life. He gives us the next step to take. You are loved by the God Almighty, saved by Jesus Christ His Son, and have the Holy Spirit bridging the gap when you cannot.

God of the universe, thank you for wanting a personal relationship with me. May I realize I am Your child and honor You. Amen.