Something I have come to see as the Spiritual Battle rages with God’s truth, love and righteousness verses satan’s deception, hatred and corruption, is how my relationship with Jesus is strengthening. I have always known that we are to have a relationship with Jesus. I have always known that he wants a personal relationship with each and every one of Us. I have been doing my very best to do excatly just that! However, I didn’t know exactly what that meant or what that looked like. Is it through scripture interpretation only? Do I just talk to Him? Is it just prayer? Is it how I lead by example? Is it how I love others? What is my relationship with Jesus supposed to look like?

I go to my memory banks to a more recent visit with some missionaries from our church. Tom and Grace serve in an area of the world where Hinduism is the primary religion. They described the Hindu religion in this manner:

The Hindu worshipers do believe in a god. They go to the temple at certain times of the day and they pray and ring the bell to worship their god. The Hindu god lives in a physical temple. They have no access to their god. It is just a god of mystery. There is no knowing of their god. There is no relationship with their god. This is the factor that leads Hindu worshipers away from their own religion. They do not know who God is. The can not have access to their god. There is no relationship with their god. When they observe God’s Protection and Love that he provides to His Christian children, and they Sea the relationship we have with OUR GOD, the Hindu worshipers Sea something different.

A. GOD’S PROTECTION

Proverbs 22:3

The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

From the Thirty Sayings to the Wise

Saying 10

Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.

Saying 20

Do not envy the wicked,
    do not desire their company;
for their hearts plot violence,
    and their lips talk about making trouble.

Saying 22

The wise prevail through great power,
    and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
Surely you need guidance to wage war,
    and victory is won through many advisers.

B. GOD’S LOVE

Proverbs 22:22-23

Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
    and do not crush the needy in court,
for the Lord will take up their case
    and will exact life for life.

Proverbs 24:32

I applied my heart to what I observed
    and learned a lesson from what I saw:

• I saw that when I interpret every word, every verse, every chapter, every book, and even the periods, of Scripture through the lens of Jesus, the truth is revealed – The Jesus Way.
• I saw how my own internal use of scripture that is interpreted The Jesus Way and how it relates to me personally is one of the methods I can use to mature my relationship with Jesus.
• I saw how the way I interact and express HIS LOVE that he provides to me, is multiplied and given to those I Love and who also Love Him – The Jesus Way.

I SAW LOVE. The Jesus Way.