Every Christian would agree that “God is real.” But the more important question we should ask ourselves is “Is God real to me?” The other day the Lord showed me there is a difference between believing “God is real” and having Him “be real” in our everyday life. Too many Christians are preparing for a “what if” circumstance and treat their salvation like a life insurance policy. “What if” Jesus is real…”What if” He does come back tomorrow…“What if” I die in a car wreck…? These Christians are getting their ducks in a row and checking a box, rather than building a relationship.

As Christians, we are called to more than “salvation”, we are called to relationship with Christ. We should be working to build a relationship with our Lord, Master, and Savior, making Him real in our lives on a daily basis. But how many of us do this on a daily basis? It takes time, submission, and commitment to build the type of relationship we are called to build. Too often our lives are too busy and we put off the “distraction” of the Holy Spirit’s nudging, so we can finish “more important” things in our life.

I admit, it can sometimes be hard to stay quiet and seek His face until He is found, our flesh cries out that there are so many other things needing to be done. But what if it was a lost child you were seeking to find? Most of us would leave no stone unturned and would not stop or slow until the child was found, especially if it was one of our own children. We would not sleep, eat, work, or play until we had our child back in our arms. This is the same fervency we should have when seeking after the Lord. He cannot “be real” in our lives until we seek Him, find Him, and invite Him into our daily life.

When we seek Him, find Him, invite Him into our daily life, and become His we are able to produce the Spiritual fruit needed to live our life unto Christ and be the Christ-like example to those around us. He helps us crucify [put to death] our fleshly passions and desires and walk in [live by] the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25).

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. – Galatians 5:22-25 (NKJV)

Without Christ in our daily lives, we are powerless against our flesh and our enemy. It is through Christ’s strength we can do all things (Philippians 4:13). Notice it doesn’t say when we get extra sleep we can do all things, rather it is through Christ. Philippians 4:13 does not tell us we can do what ever we want, it tells us we can do all things and go through all things in that are in His will for us. We must lay down our own desires and passions [our life] and live the life He lays our before us. We must crucify our flesh daily and allow Christ to live in us. It is no longer our own life to live, it is His (Galatians 2:20). How can we live His life and do what He desires if we are not spending time with Him on a daily basis or if He is not leading and guiding us as we go about our day?

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. –Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

What did we really give him when we “gave our life” to Him and asked Him to be the Master over our life? Did you hand everything in your life over to Him or did you just ask for a life insurance policy you could neatly tuck away for a later “what if” time? Did you sign the deed to your wants and desires over to him, or are you still holding it? Did you hand Him your calendar and schedule, or are you still in control of it? Are you still holding control over any part of your life? Or have you submitted it all to Him?

We are called to “count the cost” of our salvation before we accept it (Luke 14:25-33). In Luke 14:33 Christ himself tells us if we do not “forsake all” we cannot be his disciple. Those are very strong words that cannot be misunderstood; unfortunately they are ignored by many Christians today.

So then, any of you who does not forsake (renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say good-bye to) all that he has cannot be My disciple.Luke 14:33 (AMP)

Have you counted the cost of your salvation? Have you laid everything at His feet, so you can follow Him without distraction or compromise? Are you holding a life insurance policy…or are you building a relationship with Christ that will produce the Fruit of the Spirit in your life? Are you continually building your relationship with Christ on a daily basis?

Whose life are you living?

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