Personal Relationship

Dear Victorious,

We have been church going people all of our lives and always considered ourselves Christians. But my husband took a new job last year and we moved cross country. We're in a new church now and they keep talking about a "personal relationship with Jesus." To be honest, we don't get this. What is the difference and why is this so gosh darned important? I thought all you had to do was believe.

Jeanette R. - Memphis, TN

Dear Jeanette,

I suspect when most people speak of a personal relationship with Jesus, they're talking about living a life that's led by the Holy Spirit - versus spiritual life that's limited to religious ritual and tradition. You can be going to church your whole life, but frankly that doesn't make you a Christian. And if all you really had to do was believe, then the devil could get into heaven ... because even he and his demons believe in Jesus.

Consider 1 John 2:3-6. It's a very important clarification of what the Christian life is really all about. Basically it says that those who truly are His people will walk in His ways. Said differently, our obedience to God and His ways will be evident in our lives. We can't simply go to church, or simply believe that there is God - or even simply believe that Jesus was who He said He is. That belief must translate into obedience --- or God doesn't consider it belief.

Are you making a sincere and consistent effort to do what the Bible says to do in all aspects of your life? That's the surest sign of the level of your personal relationship with Jesus.