John 15:5, “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing.”
Recently I shared about a Magnetic God. We began to explore how God can be like a magnet and how we can either align with Him and be pulled to Him or choose our own way and be pushed (separated) from Him.
Does anyone remember the child’s toy called ‘Wooly Willy’? It is a piece of cardboard with Willie’s face in the middle, under a plastic square with metal shavings along the bottom, and pictures of different faces you can make on him using the shavings and maneuvering them around with a magnetic plastic pen. You can still find these on Amazon if you’re looking for something fun for your children.
In that post, I told you I had one more idea we can glean from a magnet. I said as the magnet pulled the sand to it the sand began to clump together. It could be like the particles were reaching out to each other. As Christians, as we are pulled closer to God not only do we become stronger, but we are also pulled closer to other Christians. Christ models unity in the Holy Trinity and He shows us how to love many times in scripture. As we grow closer to Jesus and learn to love like Him, we also grow closer to fellow Christians in unity and learn to love each other- John 13:34-35.
Before continuing I want to share several verses that go along with working together as Christians. These are just a few, take some time on your own to see what other scriptures talk about working together as Christians.
Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
Hebrews 10:24-25, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Colossians 3:14, “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.
Psalm 133:1, “How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!
We’ve all been there. We schedule our devotional time but as soon as we wake up we’re needed. Our to-do lists are already running through our minds before our feet hit the floor. Time gets away from us and just like that time with God is pushed to another day.
The good news is God is always calling and drawing us back to Him. Here are some wonderful ways we can stay connected to God.
Connect in prayer- James 5:16. When it comes to connecting with God, prayer goes right to the top. It’s our way of communicating with God. Always remember you are talking to the Creator of all things, show reverence. This is not a one-way conversation of your grocery list of wants and requests. Listen for God’s voice, He wants to share and connect with you too.
Connect through scripture- Psalm 119:105. The Bible is God’s Word and His way of revealing Himself to us. When you read the Bible, you can’t help but be connected with God. The Bible is timeless and has instruction, wisdom, and counsel that help us live every day with Jesus. It shows us ways to glorify God, shows us salvation, protects our hearts, and hinders evil.
Connect through worship- Hebrews 12:28. Worship isn’t just about singing, playing instruments, shouting praises. So many of us get caught up in the worship service, mostly in church, that we have missed the point. Worship includes respect and reverence for God’s Holiness. Praise for who God is. Thankfulness for what God has done.
Selflessness- putting God first. Recognizing your need for Jesus and acknowledging His promise of forgiveness and salvation. Worship requires focus on God and off yourself, allowing your heart to be changed.
Connect through nature – John 1:3. Watch the sunrise or sunset, take a hike, admire animals at the zoo, or go for a swim. Nature was created by God, and it speaks of God.
Be thankful. Gratitude always turns our focus on God and his loving kindness.
Share God with those around you- Colossians 3:23-24.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. We are drawn to God, in some way or another we will feel God pulling us toward Him. The word drawn defined is to cause to move continuously toward or after a force, to cause to go in a certain direction. I love the idea of moving toward Jesus. We were created to be drawn to Him and He is waiting with open arms to receive us.
If you feel you’ve pulled away from God or may be running out of time to spend with Him, remember you can always reconnect with Him. Yesterday is gone and today is a new beginning. Don’t worry if you don’t have it all figured out simply ‘come’. Pray throughout your day, meditate on scripture, give thanks, and worship God, and find ways to commune with Him. God will meet our willing spirit with love and peace. Remember, God has never left us, we just need to return to Him and continue to latch on to His magnetic force.
If you want to stay connected to Jesus, stay connected to the Bible, which is His very Word to us. Just being around Jesus and around His Word helps us abide and stay connected to Him. We have unparalleled access to the Bible, lots of translations, and lots of resources to help us understand it.
You just have to make the simple choice to dig into it. You need to read it. You need to study it. You need to memorize it. You need to hear it proclaimed. You need to dig into this book. Psalm 1 tells us that the one who does that becomes fruitful. Jesus says that if we want to grow in our spiritual life, we have to abide, or remain, in him. Jesus wants you to grow. He has given you these straightforward ways to do it. You have to make a choice, though. They won’t be easy; they require some sacrifice. But the fruit of those choices will be well worth it.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on ConnectWithGodDaily
Featured Image by Yvonne from Pixabay
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