Do you know how you can drift away from relationships that were once close to you? High school classmates. Former coworkers. Siblings. Once closely connected, but now distant.
I’ve seen many people do that with Jesus, too. But he holds on. He gives and blesses and shows mercy in every way to stay closely connected.
Today, say this prayer of the apostle Paul and confirm your commitment to stay connected to Jesus:
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:10,11).
Believe in him as your Savior. Then you are connected to his resurrection when he rose from the grave and became alive. His new life is your new life. Sin and regret cannot control you.
You are also connected to Jesus in his death. When he was punished for sins on the cross, you were punished for your sins on the cross as the final payment. Sin and guilt cannot curse you. God’s intentions toward you are love and mercy.
Jesus has done everything for you, so what does that mean for you now?
That you’ll do everything for him.
You will sacrifice good things. You will suffer hard things. You will serve people who deserve it and people who don’t. You will seek to reach people who don’t believe in Jesus.
And it won’t kill you, but even if it does, that won’t separate you from the love of Jesus because on the last day he will raise your dead body just like his dead body was raised, and he will take you to heaven forever.
Jesus has connected you to himself. Know him more deeply. Pursue more of him. Hold on and enjoy!
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I want to know you more, as well as you know me, and not drift any farther away from you. Thank you for not giving up on me, and for connecting me to your death and resurrection. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Read John 15:1-8 about being connected to Jesus.