God punishes me daily...it seems

[dentonz]

A Christian's primary relationship is with God and Jesus. You will understand God and Jesus, faith, Holy Spirit and just about everything if you strive to obey everything that Jesus teaches without any exception. You can have true and good relationship if your life is Christ centered. When your life is Christ centered, you will understand "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.

So, . . . .until I do EVERYTHING that was written down, living according to scripture, . . . I won't have a "relationship with God". Which things do I follow? What things [that were told I should do] do I no LONGER follow? Even if I do them, . . . how is that a relationship? How does doing all of that equate to something that I PERSONALLY would see as "a relationship"?

Orion,
I can't tell you to ignore Shad, he has a very biblical approach, but I don't know if your ready for his approach yet. We cannot change ourselves, we can not live according to the scriptures by our own power or even desire. Come to Jesus like you are with all of your baggage, continue to seek his wisdom and guidance, and then He will change you and give you the understanding you desire. All you have to do is trust in him by faith, turn over all of your problems to him, and let him work it out. He is faithfull and just to forgive us when we confess our sins, then he will give us the grace to turn from them. He knows who we are, he knows all of our weaknesses, he knows that we are dust; yet, he is drawing you to him in spite of what you've done or can do. It is all because of what he has done for us. "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." Have faith in Him and what HE has done. You would not have this thirst for the knowledge of Christ if he has abandoned you. Sometimes he has to let us fall on our faces before we will totally surrender to him and allow him to pick us back up. We fail and fall into temptation when we walk by our own power, but if you wait on him, He will give you the strength to stand in His power. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint". Be still, relax and know (by faith) that he is God and that you are in His hands.

Peace to you in Christ from your brother,

Denton

 

[Orion]

Thanks for the word, dentonz. I understand what you're saying.

 

[shad]

So, . . . .until I do EVERYTHING that was written down, living according to scripture, . . . I won't have a "relationship with God". Which things do I follow?

It is all about commitment to God and Jesus. If you trust God and Jesus, the Holy Spirit will come into your life and you will live for Jesus according to Jesus' teachings. The Holy Spirit will give you confidence and strength to endure all hardships.

You can start by reading the New Testament. I am not saying that Old Testament is not important. All I am saying is that New Testament is a quick guide book to understand Jesus' teachings. Please dont take a pick in following His teachings. You have to strive to obey everything that Jesus' teaches; this is commitment to Him.

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[shad]

Orion,

How much do you value Jesus? Do you think He is worth your commitment? He is waiting for your whole commitment to Him. Jesus also says nothing is impossible with God, trust Him. Don't think you are too young or not being Christian long enough. All you need is desire to serve Him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind. If you make decision to commit to Him, the Holy Sprint will give you desire to be faithful to Jesus all of His teachings and commandments.

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[shad]

Orion,

This is what Jesus says to His followers:

Luke 14:26 (King James Version)
26If 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.

Luke 14:27 (King James Version)
27And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Luke 14:33 (King James Version)
33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 

[Orion]

shad, you APPEAR to be under the false assumption that I don't know anything about Christainity. In fact, I have been in the church all my life, . . . have read the old and new testament, and have had a desire to be more, know more, have a relationship with God, . . . yet have been unable to recognize it. You asked if I value Jesus to make a commitment, doing all that he commanded. How is that "having a relationship with him" . . . . .just doing what was commanded? Where is the personal part in it? It is STILL a matter of my OWN faith and belief that it exists. Believing that what my mind may be thinking is [somehow] Jesus "speaking to me". Too many variables to just blindly believe that such a method is anything personal. So, basically, . . . the way I see it, . . . I am to follow an ideology. One where I do not necessarily fully agree with.

 

[shad]

Too many variables to just blindly believe that such a method is anything personal. So, basically, . . . the way I see it, . . . I am to follow an ideology. One where I do not necessarily fully agree with.

Christianity is all about following Jesus Christ, friend. Commitment to Him and live for Him. Jesus' followers should be strive to please God by serving Jesus. Commitment to Jesus is the only way to please God, not anything else.

The Bible says, "love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind". It is all about commitment to God and Jesus.

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[Orion]

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind", and to have a commitment to God/Jesus. This is where my mind has its trouble translating it into something that I can fully comprehend. Neither God, nor Jesus, present themselves to me in an ABSOLUTELY REAL way, therefore, . . to "love them", as is suggested in that Bible verse, doesn't translate into reality for me. They are good concepts. The fruits of the spirit, golden rule, and the like are wonderful ways to live your life, and I try to do so everyday. But [again, to me], this doesn't translate into a "relationship" to where I COULD honestly give the level of love required, when I never hear, see, feel, etc. that WHOM I'm supposed to lavish such love onto!

I hope you can see what I'm saying. It isn't that I don't WANT to, . . . but to have this level of love for the unseen, unfelt, unheard, . . . with it based SOLEY on "faith", . . . my being doesn't comprehend it. I don't understand it. I find myself amazed that some DO!

 

[shad]

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind", and to have a commitment to God/Jesus. This is where my mind has its trouble translating it into something that I can fully comprehend. Neither God, nor Jesus, present themselves to me in an ABSOLUTELY REAL way, therefore, . . to "love them", as is suggested in that Bible verse, doesn't translate into reality for me.

Yes, I realize you dont understand. Thats why I am trying to make you understand, step by step. But you seem to be resisting. Please have an open mind to understand since you are having difficulty accepting this life's predicaments as you expressed in the OP.

They are good concepts. The fruits of the spirit, golden rule, and the like are wonderful ways to live your life, and I try to do so everyday.

Jesus is explaining in detail how to do it in the New Testament.

But [again, to me], this doesn't translate into a "relationship" to where I COULD honestly give the level of love required, when I never hear, see, feel, etc. that WHOM I'm supposed to lavish such love onto!

When you strive to be obedient to everything Jesus' teaches, the Holy Spirit will come into your life and you will have desire to change your mentality and life styles according to Jesus' teachings in all aspect of your life.

I hope you can see what I'm saying. It isn't that I don't WANT to, . . . but to have this level of love for the unseen, unfelt, unheard, . . . with it based SOLEY on "faith", . . . my being doesn't comprehend it. I don't understand it. I find myself amazed that some DO!

If you surrender to Jesus completely, you will understand what I am saying, above all about Jesus and God. It seems that we are going in circles. Please ponder about commitment. You dont seem to understand "commitment".

 

[dentonz]

Orion,
You're not going to get the answers you seek by asking the same questions and getting the same answers. I've tried to be as gentle as I can be in responding and trying to convey to you the importance of focusing on Jesus. The only way you are going to get the amount of faith that you need to understand the answers you've have received are by taking the time to truly read and study the Bible.
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God". The word of God is truly a living word. As you continue to read, I don't mean just a passage here and there, but actually make yourself sit and read thoroughly through the New Testament, meditate on passages that stick out to you, ask God to give you understanding, saturate your mind with His word, and I promise, within a short amount of time, your faith will begin to grow. His word will become alive, things that you have read or heard thousands of times will begin to take on new meanings and depths unimaginable.

A little background on myself. I grew up in a very Bible-based home, always going to church, bible studies, and so forth. I thought that I had a pretty good grasp on what it teaches. I joined the Marine Corps at 18 and for about 7 years I wandered away from God. Even though I had experienced God's hand throughout my life I started to question why I believed things that I was taught. So I began one day reading the Bible. I had read it and studied it most of my life, yet it was different this time. I began to read it with questions in my mind instead of preconceived answers. I forced my self to sit down and read from Genesis to Revelation with a pen and paper in hand. I would write down thoughts and questions as they came to me. I would ask God to give me wisdom on passages that I was reading and I would write down anything that came to mind. Before I knew it, I had three notebooks full of scripture expostions, poems, songs, many sermons, and a lifetime of sermon ideas and titles. Then I realized, that I knew exactly why I believed what I believed, every question I started with was answered with more depth and understanding than I could ever have imagined or explain, I was walking closer to the Lord than I ever had, the mere whisper of the name "Jesus" and it was like I could hear him say "yes Son". My faith was strengthened beyond measure to the point where I don't have to question who Jesus is, because I know him.

Don't take my word for it, or the word of any other man. Find out for yourself, read, study, pray, read, study, pray, etc., etc., etc. Focus on Jesus. At least begin with the New Testament, try this for a month and keep us updated on your progress, if you will.

In Christ,
Denton