At Kingdom Building Ministries, we often say, “The greatest gift you will ever give the world is your intimacy with God.”

It’s such a profound statement. In those few words lies the reality that everything we do for God and for the world begins with having a deep, intimate relationship with Him.

Essentially, that the whole focus of our lives needs to be JESUS. Not the things we do for Him. Not the things He can do for us. The whole basis of everything must be an ever-growing, more passionate love relationship with God—getting to know Him just to know Him, not for what He can give or do.

Then, out of that love, we can better serve Him in all the areas of our lives. All the “things” we do for Him come together so much better when our focus is on Him and not the things. And, then, we’re not selling a product, we’re not spitting out empty, life-less guidelines for living and we’re not monotonously doing tasks out of obligation. We’re sharing Jesus and letting Him and His love for us and others flow in all that we are and all that we do.

It all sounds so easy and makes such sense, doesn’t it? Yet it’s so difficult to keep straight.

I’ve realized recently that the longer I’m a follower of Jesus, the more easily I get caught up in the things of being a Christian—knowing all the church “lingo,” what to say, when to say it and how to do the tasks of following Him.

I lose sight of the truth, power and absolute necessity of having a thriving, intimate, LOVE RELATIONSHIP with Jesus. I got lost in the “doing” rather than the “Being.”

And, whenever I realize that my focus is off, rather than simply getting to know Jesus better and spending time with Him because I enjoy Him, I make putting Him first in my life a TASK. And, then, I can’t keep my heart legitimately focused on Him for Him.

The beauty in all this, of course, is Jesus Himself. He, in His grace and mercy, doesn’t let me remain in that place for very long. Instead He woos me back to Him, reminding me of His love for me and lifts my gaze from His hands to His face. And as I spend time with the Lord and have a firm grasp on just how much He loves me, loving Him back and keeping Him first is easy (1 John 4:19).

I'm more and more conscious that even my best attempt to pursue Him and keep Him first is in vain without His help. I really can’t do anything apart from Him.

Jesus, forgive me for the times that I reduce my relationship with You to a list of tasks and forget that everything I do is based on You, Your love for me and my knowing and loving You. Please, continually woo me to You and remind me of Your love and my need for You.

© 2005 Kingdom Building Ministries