Day 19: Most Valuable Relationship

Reading: Psalm 11:1-7

The most intimate relationship you can have is with God. He knows you deeper than anyone else, inside and out. We read the various emotions David goes through in Psalms, and today's reading is no different. Though David is facing hardship and pursuit of enemies, he doesn't feel the need to run, as he has already ran to God's arms, the best refuge you can have. David has a strong relationship with God, based on this reasoning alone. How many times do you continue to hang out in danger, knowing you are safe and have no need to run because God has you? It can be tough to have faith and dependance like that, even on people here on earth. But to feel so taken care of by God is a powerful relationship that you never want to lose. Run to Him in times of trouble and know that He has you.

When is a time you needed refuge? Where did you go?




Do you have faith as strong as David's when it comes to knowing God will take care of you? How can you work on this?




Reading: Matthew 13:36-58

The parables Jesus shares can be a little scary, but we can be confident that if we are walking with Him, we will be considered the "wheat" of His harvest. We also read that this relationship with Him is the most valuable we can ever have, like a treasured pearl or treasure found in a field.
The question that remains about this very valuable relationship is how much are you willing to give up for Him? Everything? Jesus doesn't just want part of us, He wants all of us. When we devote our lives to Him and make it about more than just a "get out of hell free" choice, we can experience a life full of wonderful blessing and relationship. Not to say that life will get easier by any means, but the way you go about it will look dramatically different. We should never take the relationship we have with Jesus for granted, and we should strive to do His will and please Him daily. If we give Him our hopes, plans and even dreams, He will take care of us to the end, and will come again to take us with Him before He destroy the "weeds" of His harvest.

How do you value your relationship with Christ?



What about your life reveals your true value of your relationship with Him?




Reading: Genesis 38:1-39:23

Sometimes we may be in the midst of a situation we don't care for. Maybe we're there unjustly, or because that's just where life led us, but either way, we are there. We certainly see a couple of stories here that probably felt like tough circumstances. One of them being with Judah and Tamar, and the other with Potiphar's wife and Joseph.
Judah, who tries to put Tamar to death after finding out she prostituded herself and became pregnant, learns that she is guilty because of his actions as well, making them both guilty in this act. However, later on, we'll learn that one of the sons in the set of twins Tamar gives birth to is in the line that leads to Jesus.
The same kind of situation happen to Joseph, except he does the right thing when confronted by temptation. He flees fast from it. Though he is framed and thrown in prison, we'll soon find out how God blesses him more deeply as well read on in his story.
Our circumstances at the time may not seem ideal, and we may have put ourselves in that situation by either giving into temptation or not following the path God put out before us. However, we read that He can bless us through it, whether it be right away, or in the near future. God is a God of second chances, though not always a God of second opportunities. We need to remember Him when faced with tough circumstances, and remember that He will bless us through it, in time.

What is a circumstance in your life that you are not too fond of?




Have you seen God begin to work in your less than idea circumstance? How?




Our relationship with God is the most valuable one we should have. He knows us deeper and more intimately than anyone ever will. When we face hardships, we should run to Him for refuge. As we look to following Him, we should sacrifice all we have for His mission. And when we face temptations and situations that are just bad, we can remember that He can work through it and bring good out of it. Just pursue your relationship with Him first and foremost, and the rest will fall into place.