CLOSER THAN A BROTHER: JESUS MY SAVIOR.

Originally Posted: Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 9:28pm

Closer than a brother. Think about that for a second.

Can you say that about Jesus? This man, who is supposed to be the closest person to us? Emotionally with your heart, spiritually with your soul, and mentally with your mind.

This should be the foremost thought on our minds, from day wake to day break. Walking alongside Him, acting how He would act. Reacting how He would react. Consulting Him on all things. Listening for His voice as a shepherd directs his sheep. Because it says, the sheep know my voice and follow it.

If not, there is obviously then, something that separates you from this life of walking with Him. There is something, that I think, can be narrowed down to being a matter of the heart.

Did you know that the very reason Jesus came down, was to preach truth to our souls? To free us from the darkest corners of our hearts. So that we can have a relationship with Him? Jesus' ministry was to people. Only people, it wasn't to the restoration of the greens in the world, or the animals on the earth, and it certainly wasn't to feed us with knowledge. Jesus dealt with the hearts of people, and solely the hearts of people. When He spoke, it was directly to peoples hearts, passing the walls of the mind and the inhibitions of the sinful nature. He cares for and desires your heart only.

I see so many today. People call Jesus, "My savior." But they live their lives, and I watch, the littlest things upset them, they have hot tempers, constant sadness, heavy countenances and so forth. They have what seems, to be no or very little connection between them and their "savior." Where is your relationship? Where is your heart? And what did Jesus "save" you from?

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

If you think for even one second, that it doesn't matter where your heart is. That you can be fine, and live a good christian life not worrying about the consequences as long as you act like what you think is a christian, or 'good person,' Jesus says so Himself, it is useless.

Jesus would rather have a man in an open and honest relationship with him failing every minute of every day, as long as that man is trying to attain Jesus' righteousness, and covered by God's grace; than a man who lives a, what the world would perceive, 'perfect life' without any communicative relationship or attempt to attain His righteousness. This is what it means to love Jesus. To have an earnest and open heart toward Him.

It's funny isn't it? The only reason Jesus came and died. Was so that He can reach deep into peoples hearts and free us from ourselves, that we can have an intimate and real relationship with Him. How amazing is our God!

Likewise, as John says, He that says he is in light, and hates his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loves his brother abides in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

Applying this to this open relationship with Christ, because of this intimate loving relationship with Him, we should love others and crave intimacy and genuineness with others just like we do with Him! Our relationship with Jesus should be that of overflow, to where we are in such a constant state of staring into the beautiful face of God's love, that our faces are glowing with abundance, enough to carry it out into the world with eagerness, because we have found this inexplicable love.

So I draw this conclusion; If you do not have love in abundance, if you do not desire intimacy, if you are desperate, if you are constantly weary, if you are found wanting. Where is your heart in your relationship with Jesus? Because that is all that matters to Him. And His love is what changes a heart of stone.

Is he closer than a brother?

Matthew 13:15 "For this people's heart has grown callous, their ears are dull of hearing, they have closed their eyes; or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should turn again; and I would heal them."



Optional: (Let me just say, for me personally; I do not have this relationship, nor will I ever have this relationship nailed down and contained in a box of sorts. God is too big to contain, and my relationship with Him is not one of me being high and mighty, knowing exactly when and how to come to Him. It is full of doubts and insecurities and worries. it is often a relationship of constantly falling on my face before Him and crying out to Him. Coming to Him with my problems and there's a lot of whining involved. But it is open, and honest, and real, and it is all I have. And He ALWAYS shows up and fills me with His love and His hope, so that I have the ability and pleasure to go and TRY to show others. I don't know much, I struggle to hear His voice, but I can say though; because of this open relationship of desperation, I can honestly, truly say, He IS closer to me than a brother... and even closer than that. And I KNOW He desires the same for every one of us. For He issues the same grace on all of us. Surrender every corner of your heart.)