Hosanna Restoration Church

As we steam roll into another year, I am encouraged to focus on the main product. Perhaps challenged would be a better word here. I speak of the main product, because it seems to me that people are wearing themselves out attempting to produce what will actually come with little or no effort if the main product is produced. Oh there may be some packaging and touch up needed, but for the most part they will just be there.

After reading the heading and the scripture, I am sure that you have figured out what I am calling by-products, and most, if not all of you have already figured out the main product. This is just to remind you and me what Christianity is all about. So bare with me as I repeat what we already know.

The point of this is to challenge you to work on your personal relationship with the Lord. We develop a relationship with God the same way we do with any one else. We spend time with them. We think of them. We call them. We talk to them. We listen to them. When you think of it, developing a close relationship with God should be the easiest thing in the world to do. God is present everywhere. He promised to never leave us. He is always listening, and ready to respond. But we all know that, right!

Then why is it that so many Christians burn out trying to accomplish what will come naturally, if they just spend time with Him. When we come to know God, we can not imagine what it would be like not to have Him always there to turn to. What it would be like if we could not give Him glory, or receive His comfort. Before we came to know Him, we could not figure out why people would be so wrapped up in Him. Why people would always be saying praise the Lord, or let’s pray, or any of thousands of things that people say who have been Born Again.

Trouble comes when we try to produce the by-product with out the main product. To produce gasoline, you have to start with oil. People are trying to come up with alternatives, but still to get gasoline you need to refine oil. The same thing goes on in the lives of Christians. The fruit of the Spirit comes from the tree of relationship with Jesus Christ. Other people may attempt to produce nice qualities in their lives by other means, but they will not last, nor will they work as well. They may look the same. After all, you can not tell that gasoline is watered down by looking at it(at least most people can not), but you sure know when the motor dies or the line freezes up.

The same is true of fruit that we produce without a relationship with Jesus Christ. It just will not last. Let’s all resolve to spend more time just growing in our relationship with God. The rest will flow out of that. If you want to know how, just ask God. He will be more than happy to help you.