Christianity as a Relationship

​I’m sure you’ve heard someone say Christianity is being in a relationship with Jesus Christ.  When I hear that I assume they are using relationship as a synonym for being in fellowship with God.  But there can be no relationship where there is no life.  So, being a Christian must start with the gift of life, the second birth Jesus Christ told Nicodemus he needed in John 3.  So, becoming a Christian starts with believing in Jesus Christ for everlasting life, John 3:16.   only then you can build a relationship with the Lord. 
 
Let’s stick with the word fellowship since it’s the word Luke, Paul and John used to describe the close relationship they shared with each other and God.  In Acts 2:42 Luke described the Apostles fellowship as sharing in meals and prayer.  That suggests fellowship is a friendship in which we share our life experiences with another.  That would Include the bad times as well as the good.  Paul spoke in Philippians 3:10 of knowing the fellowship of His (Christ’) suffering.  Fellowship is more than knowing someone.  The Apostle John actually pointed out specific aspects of being in fellowship with Jesus Christ.  He started with these in 1 John 1:5-7 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.  That means fellowship starts with living (walk) by the same values the Lord holds as true.  
 
The rest of 1 John explains what it means to live by those values.  It includes confessing our sins to God (1John 1:9) Keeping His commandments (1 John 2:3), and loving one another (1 John 4:21).  That is the short list, so you need to read 1 John to find what I left out.  At its most basic level having fellowship with the Lord means learning about Him and opening up yourself to Him.  Sharing with Him stuff about yourself, your expectations and dreams in light of what He has for your future with Him.  Remember, He is God and you are not.  He made you, you didn’t make yourself (Psalm 100:3).  His principles and values take first place. 
 
Anyway, does that sound like your relationship with God?  Are you getting to know Him by reading your Bible?  It is after all God’s word.  It is His revelation of the things He wants you to know.  And He commands us to study it so we understand Him. 
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success (Josuha 1:8). 
Do you talk to Him, pray to Him?  Fellowship requires two-way communication.  How much time do you spend in Prayer?  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. If you have believed in Jesus Christ for everlasting life then you’re indwelt by the Holy Spirit.  He is with you 24/7 so you might as well talk to Him.  And that is what prayer is talking to God. 
 
Bottom line is this.  If you truly want to have a relationship with Jesus Christ then believe what He says.  Read your Bible, all of it.  And pray a lot, like all the time.