> > You know, they say the only way to salvation is through Christ, and I believe that. I'd say I'm pretty up on all my theology, except for one rather important thing: when I hear the phrase "relationship with Christ" or "relationship with God", I don't have any idea what it means. This is kind of distressing me, so if any of you have an answer I'd like to hear it.
> >
> > -Eric "Except from Wes" Sleator
> > Sun 19 Aug A.D. 2001
>
>
> Dear Friend --
> Yes, you can know God personally, as presumptuous as that may sound. God is so eager to establish a personal, loving relationship with you that He has already made all the arrangements. He is patiently and lovingly waiting for you to respond to His invitation. You can receive forgiveness of your sins and assurance of eternal life through faith in His only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. --Bill Bright [Campus Crusade for Christ, Inc.]
>
> ****This booklet uses the "Four Laws" approach. I'll just quote points one through three without explanation since you said you were familiar with the theology. If anyone would like to learn more, however, see http://www.greatcom.org/laws/english/flash/ (flash version) or http://www.greatcom.org/laws/english/ (printable version) for a thorough presentation of the Four Laws.
>
> 1. God loves you and created you to know Him personally.
> 2. But since man is sinful and separated from God, we alone cannot know Him personally or experience His love.
> 3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him alone we can know God personally and experience God's love.
>
>
> Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive us of our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for our sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. We receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of our will.
>
> ****A personal relationship with God involves putting Christ in the center of your life. In Revelation 3:20, Christ says "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him." That means God's son will come into your life and be your friend. God's spirit will dwell within your heart. Relationships don't get any better than that.
>
>
> Gahalia

This all says it so well. And it's a relationship that will deepen in ways you'd never expect, too, if you let it. But you have to let it; you share some responsibility in that relationship. First, by accepting His gift of eternal life, second by allowing yourself to be yielded to Him. Personal means *personal*, you can't hold God at arm's length and have a *personal relationship* with Him.

There are people I know at church and say "hi" to on Sunday mornings; but I wouldn't say I have a "personal relationship" with them. I haven't spend enough time with them to get to know them, or they me; they're just friendly faces I am aquainted with.

On the other hand, my best friend & I email or AIM almost every day. She knows what's going on in my life, and I know what's up with her. She is there to offer advice when I need it, tell me when I'm being clueless, lighten my mood, lighten my burdens. She sends me cards or letters in the mail, too, and I read those. We are vulnerable to each other. It's a *personal* relationship.

So of course the analogy is that if you want to deepen your personal relationship with God, you must spend time with Him. A quick "hello" on Sunday morning will leave you only aquaintances.
Do you talk to Him in prayer daily? Do you read His words to you? Are you willing to be vulnerable and yielded to Him? That's when it becomes personal. :-)

koalamom