Carina Francke

Scripture: Jeremiah 2:2:"I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown."

A friendship begins with connection and develops into a relationship as time goes by.  And yet quite a lot of Christians stagnate at connecting level with Jesus Christ after conversion and mean no business in having a growing relationship with Him.

Georg Thieme believes that Christianity is not a religion but a relationship. As you and I should know; a relationship with God (as well as any other relationship) requires one's willingness to commit oneself to the relationship, as well as investing time to get to know Him better.

From our portion of Scripture, it is quite clear that a relationship also requires devotion (Jeremiah 2:2) - that kind of devotion that doesn't fade or fail, but stays committed to the person, irrespective of life that happens.

And that is exactly what God wants to say to Israel (also to you and me) when He uses the image of a married couple to describe His nation’s intimate and dependent, loving relationship with Him.  It is a given truth that His commitment towards us is eternal and unfailing. Initially Israel felt the same and followed Him undauntedly into the desert where nothing is planted, where water is scarce and where the sun shines fiercely. They followed Him because He is God. They loved Him, knew that He will provide their every need and that He will never leave them to their fate.....because He is God. They knew that He will never break or terminate His covenant with them......because He is God!

What an indescribable privilege that man can be in a relationship with the Creator of everything, the God that never fails, the One who initiated a friendship between Him and man!

A curve ball to you: can you still bring back to mind the times of absolute dependency and trust in Him soon after you committed your life to Him? Are you still in a living, active relationship with Him or did you stagnate at connection - that initial meeting where you knew you have something in common with Him?

Prayer:  Lord I want to know your heart; I want to follow you on the paths that you tread for me. Give me insight, sensitivity and a persisting will to learn to know You in your fullness. Amen.