What does 'a relationship with Jesus' mean?

[Yeshualives]

I think that as I became a Christian, I got the wrong impression of what a relationship with Jesus can be like. I thought that because He would be my friend - that as I shared everything with Him, He would literally talk back to me so that I could hear Him and my loneliness and sense of bewilderment with the world would be eased. However, while I have met more friends through church now, I still feel lonely and I still feel at a loss to know who Jesus really is. Sometimes I've had a few thoughts that i've felt were Him speaking to me, but mostly i've felt frustrated by silences when I've spoken to Him and I still feel I know so little about Him.

I find the bible hard going at the moment and I remember so little, and I'm also frustrated that it seems to take so many hours of study to understand some things. I thought we were meant to come to Jesus like children, and I thought that then answers would come, but I find it is easy to get led astray by all sorts of teachings.

What am I doing wrong? Is it really possible to know Jesus better than this? When people say you can have a relationship with Jesus, what do they mean? Do they mean by learning about Him through the bible?

I seem to be reliant on other people for a word of prophecy or knowledge - but sometimes the words are so general that I wonder if they really apply to me. Some people seem so spiritual - or talk as if Jesus is right there, talking and guiding them clearly - I know we are not to compare, but I feel like I am missing out.

 

[Coconut]

I love your questions...truly...and i`m not even sure I can answer them sufficiently for you...because it is my experience that those seeking to know Christ are never quite satisfied that they "know" Him...or maybe that is just the way it is for me...

However I tend to be one of the bravest donkey`s around here ...so I`ll try..

The simplicity of Jesus Christ is this for me...I was told He was born to die to redeem humanity...I believed ...and I committed my life to Him...and here I am...

Ever since I committed my life to Christ...I`ve been on a quest to know Him...and I despair that I ever will until I can see Him as He is with my own eyes...

There is doubtfully a single person on this same quest who has not asked the same questions you asked...and been plagued with the same doubts...after all much of what happens after we believe in Christ...is a walk of faith...faith in the unseen, faith in the unheard, faith in the unknown... the Spiritual realm He exists in is so real and so close by times...so tangible you can almost reach out and grasp it...yet so elusive you may as well try to grasp the wind.

When Christ fills our human vessels with His Spirit (if we have asked, He surely has) there is a change that begins to take place in us.......... This is the core of what it means to have a relationship with Christ...He is in me...I am now spiritually alive because of Him ....
i`m changing...but not by my own doing...i`m understanding more...because His spirit is revealing Himself to me...i`m slowly beginning to see things the way He sees them...because He is allowing me to see...but yet none of this spiritual awakening is measurable to my human mind.

There are many teachers out there, that would give you measuring sticks, and lists, and ways and means and formulas to chart your "relationship" with Christ. I would disagree with them all...because such charts are not personal...and as individuals our relationship with Christ is very personal....it can be nothing else.

As a wife would you rely on outside sources, or allow the criteria set our by others for marriage to be your guide...or would you be focused entirely on your husband...and work on your relationship together?
If you ask yourself this one question, with the understanding that we are the Bride of Christ...it will perhaps help your understanding....

Listen to the Spirit within you...simply ask 'Lord teach me...' and wait for Him...you will learn to know and trust when He is talking...and when in doubt...ask Him to verify it is Him speaking to you...He will do that for you.

I have to sign off..its storming here... blessings :`)

 

[undercover12]

hiya,

a blessed day to you dearly child of the Living God.

hope my answer could give you an idea to your question.

when Jesus was introduced to me, first, i come to know that He must become my Savior because i cannot save my own self and second be my Lord too. Him being my Savior, I'm dependent on His salvation and daily protection; and Him being my Lord, He got now all the right on my life expecting on my daily obedience to His Will.

after accepting Him as my personal Lord and Savior, i also come to know He's my Heavenly Father who is responsible to provide and care for my every need (attention, love, care, affection, joy, peace) and every other personal needs.

Him being my friend, i can tell Him my secrets. hehehe
but the most awesome thing is if He would reveal Himself daily? I don't know how but if you gotta be intimate with Him, He will.

that's how i think i have to describe my relationship with the Lord. To know more about Him Sis?? by reading His Words and being with other believers who knew Him too... hehe.. they are a great help also.

i think you got the right desire. TO KNOW HIM MORE??? surely He will fulfill the desire of your heart. congrats for that desire!!!!


God bless you with lots of His grace and love.


in Christ,


undercover


He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21

 

[Trishann]

When Christ fills our human vessels with His Spirit (if we have asked, He surely has) there is a change that begins to take place in us.......... This is the core of what it means to have a relationship with Christ...He is in me...I am now spiritually alive because of Him ....
i`m changing...but not by my own doing...i`m understanding more...because His spirit is revealing Himself to me...i`m slowly beginning to see things the way He sees them...because He is allowing me to see...

Coconut you explained it well. Trish

 

[Etienne Marais]

I am very sory to hear about your problem. I dont want to ask what is going on but let us pray that God will help you to sort it out. May God help you out of this situation. You are in my prayers and may God bless you.

 

[Boanerges]

I think that as I became a Christian, I got the wrong impression of what a relationship with Jesus can be like. I thought that because He would be my friend - that as I shared everything with Him, He would literally talk back to me so that I could hear Him and my loneliness and sense of bewilderment with the world would be eased. However, while I have met more friends through church now, I still feel lonely and I still feel at a loss to know who Jesus really is. Sometimes I've had a few thoughts that i've felt were Him speaking to me, but mostly i've felt frustrated by silences when I've spoken to Him and I still feel I know so little about Him.

I find the bible hard going at the moment and I remember so little, and I'm also frustrated that it seems to take so many hours of study to understand some things. I thought we were meant to come to Jesus like children, and I thought that then answers would come, but I find it is easy to get led astray by all sorts of teachings.

What am I doing wrong? Is it really possible to know Jesus better than this? When people say you can have a relationship with Jesus, what do they mean? Do they mean by learning about Him through the bible?

I seem to be reliant on other people for a word of prophecy or knowledge - but sometimes the words are so general that I wonder if they really apply to me. Some people seem so spiritual - or talk as if Jesus is right there, talking and guiding them clearly - I know we are not to compare, but I feel like I am missing out.

From the Websters Dictionary:
Relationship
RELA'TIONSHIP, n. The state of being related by kindred, affinity or other alliance.

There are many kinds of relationships. Ours with God is that of a son or a daughter.
I have shared some of this with another friend before but perhaps it will benefit you now. This is about the Christian life and our relationship with God. If you just met someone it would take an ivestment of your time to know them and have an intimate relationship with them; knowing someone's heart takes effort. If you are willing to invest in that relationship you will see much fruit born out of it and His voice will become clear.



Having a successful relationship - it always boils down to the same things. What are you spending your time with? What is the priority in your life?
You need to remember that Christianity is a living relationship between man and God. Like all relationships this grows when we invest the time and energy to make express our love and receive that love back. Like any relationship our hearts can grow cold if we spend our time perusing other things and neglecting what matters most.
I have seen people get so involved in life that when their kids are grown up and out of the house they discover they do not even know each other any more. How does this happen? Little by little things take the place of time spent and love expressed.

It is time to get back to the basics:
Spend time in worship- at least one hour at a time pour out your heart to God- the Father will meet Him there.
Spend time in prayer- this praying without ceasing thing is really just maintaining an attitude of prayer and including God as the center of your whole day (and life).
Spend time in the Word- We must ask the Holy Spirit to speak to His heart. God will meet him where he is.

If we are willing to seek his God he will always find Him. If we value his walk and relationship with God he will begin to peruse Him again.

I am praying for times of refreshing to come upon you my friend.
Many blessings in Jesus Name,
brother Larry.

 

[HisFollower]

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:26-27
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:
John 14:21
If a man love me, he will keep my words:
John 14:23
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings:
John 14:24
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;
John 15:20
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matt 7:21

 

[stephen]

I love your questions...truly...and i`m not even sure I can answer them sufficiently for you...because it is my experience that those seeking to know Christ are never quite satisfied that they "know" Him...or maybe that is just the way it is for me...

However I tend to be one of the bravest donkey`s around here ...so I`ll try..

The simplicity of Jesus Christ is this for me...I was told He was born to die to redeem humanity...I believed ...and I committed my life to Him...and here I am...

Ever since I committed my life to Christ...I`ve been on a quest to know Him...and I despair that I ever will until I can see Him as He is with my own eyes...

There is doubtfully a single person on this same quest who has not asked the same questions you asked...and been plagued with the same doubts...after all much of what happens after we believe in Christ...is a walk of faith...faith in the unseen, faith in the unheard, faith in the unknown... the Spiritual realm He exists in is so real and so close by times...so tangible you can almost reach out and grasp it...yet so elusive you may as well try to grasp the wind.

When Christ fills our human vessels with His Spirit (if we have asked, He surely has) there is a change that begins to take place in us.......... This is the core of what it means to have a relationship with Christ...He is in me...I am now spiritually alive because of Him ....
i`m changing...but not by my own doing...i`m understanding more...because His spirit is revealing Himself to me...i`m slowly beginning to see things the way He sees them...because He is allowing me to see...but yet none of this spiritual awakening is measurable to my human mind.

There are many teachers out there, that would give you measuring sticks, and lists, and ways and means and formulas to chart your "relationship" with Christ. I would disagree with them all...because such charts are not personal...and as individuals our relationship with Christ is very personal....it can be nothing else.

As a wife would you rely on outside sources, or allow the criteria set our by others for marriage to be your guide...or would you be focused entirely on your husband...and work on your relationship together?
If you ask yourself this one question, with the understanding that we are the Bride of Christ...it will perhaps help your understanding....

Listen to the Spirit within you...simply ask 'Lord teach me...' and wait for Him...you will learn to know and trust when He is talking...and when in doubt...ask Him to verify it is Him speaking to you...He will do that for you.

I have to sign off..its storming here... blessings :`)

This is excellent advice to you Rachel. None could say it better


In His Love