Do You Have A Relationship With Jesus Christ?

It was a beautiful fall day as we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Doug Cory opened our service with prayer and greeted our visitors. Special prayers were requested for Stephen Holly, the Clyde Moss family, Calvin Reece, Carolyn, Vonda Andrews, Polly Ritter, Wayne Johnson and Skip.

In announcements, the business meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, and we will also observe the Lord’s Supper.

“Practical Peace” was the devotional as Linda Abercrombie read Psalm 23:2, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” Linda shared everyday activities for helping relieve stress and tension in our lives. We need to do something every day that we enjoy and adopt a few stress-relieving habits to taste God’s rest by.

Congregational hymns of praise included “Sunlight” and “Do Lord” led by Karen Gardner with Becky Johnson at the piano. Tyrel Lett asked God’s blessing, and he and Rick Lett served as ushers and collected the offering.

Isaiah 41:10, which says, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” was the scripture for Brother Mark Hall’s message. “It’s Not Religion, It’s a Relationship,” Brother Mark told us. It is a wicked world and we need God’s presence. “Got religion? What do you get with it? Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ?”

Brother Mark used the letters in “trust” to make the five points in what makes a relationship.

First is time. “Time is involved in any real relationship. You need time to get to know one another. You won’t get to know the Lord’s will if you don’t spend time with Him. If we want a closer relationship with God, we must spend more time with Him. As Christians, if we are the bride of Christ, our time is Jesus Christ’s time, too. If we don’t spend time with Him, is that a real relationship?”

Second, it takes resolve to make a relationship. In 2 Timothy 1:12, Paul tells what true Christian resolve looks like. Brother Mark told us that Jesus Christ has, is and always will be faithful to us. Are we faithful to Him?”

The third thing that makes a relationship is understanding. Brother Mark told us, “No one is more understanding than Jesus Christ. Be understanding in our relationships.” Brother Mark read 1 Peter 3:7 and said, “A great and peaceful marriage or any relationship is based on understanding. Everyone doesn’t have to think like you do. We all need a little understanding. It goes both ways. We need to be tenderhearted, understanding and considerate.”

Fourth is sacrifice. Brother Mark read John 15:13 and said, “If Jesus sacrificed His life and God sacrificed His son, what are we willing to sacrifice for Him? If there is anyone you are withholding your love from, you need to love them for Jesus’ sake. Is that too much for you to sacrifice? Good relationships are all about and require sacrifice. Sacrifice strengthens the relationship.”

• And lastly, Brother Mark told us that trust is the greatest thing in any relationship. He used a blindfold to demonstrate how you trust someone to lead you when you cannot see. “We all think we know what we have planned to do tomorrow, but there is no certainty of what tomorrow will bring. Trust is the greatest thing in any relationship.” Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

In closing, Brother Mark told us that all of these things add up to what a relationship should really look like: time, resolve, understanding, sacrifice and trust. “If you trust in the Lord, you will go with him and do what He wants you to do without question. Understanding the will of God takes sacrifice without asking what you are going to do. Do you trust Him enough without asking what or how long? Do you have that kind of relationship with the Lord? Do you trust Him to do His will? His time is your time. Are you willing to make that sacrifice? It is not religion, it is a relationship. Do you have that kind of relationship? Have you started working on it?”

“Trust and Obey” was our hymn of invitation, and Tom Sharp gave the benediction.

Everyone is invited to worship at Mill Creek Baptist Church on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and everyone is welcome to attend.

Mill Creek Baptist Church is located three and one-half miles east of Noel, just off Highway 90. For information, call 417-475-7633 and leave a message.

If you trust in the Lord, you will go with him and do what He wants you to do without question. Understanding the will of God takes sacrifice without asking what you are going to do. Do you trust Him enough without asking what or how long? Do you have that kind of relationship with the Lord? Do you trust Him to do His will? His time is your time. Are you willing to make that sacrifice? It is not religion, it is a relationship. Do you have that kind of relationship? Have you

started working on it?