Relationship – Key to Blessings

We were recently getting ready to go visit our daughter to celebrate her birthday with her. We have two other children and we love them dearly. But this child, born to us later in our marriage, has been with us longer than the others and God has blessed us with a very close relationship.
I cannot wait to see her. (Now if I were going to see either of our sons, I would feel the same way.) I am taking her a lot of stuff! I keep thinking of more things to give to her! I just can't wait to bless her! Other people are sending her gifts for they love her too and want to give to her. She is that kind of person, by God's grace.

I thought to myself this morning, “If I feel this way about her, how much more does God feel that way about me, and all His children?” We sometimes “shy away” from a closer relationship to God, thinking He may want something terrible from us. Or He may take away something or someone dear to us. But a parent who loves a child and sees that child loving him back and being obedient and wanting to please him, why, they just cannot give that child enough. They will sacrifice a lot to give to that child. God loved us so much, He sacrificed Jesus, to show His love. Now He shows His love for all, like we love our children, even the selfish and rebellious that want nothing more than to get away from us. But we cannot give to that child like we'd like to, not because we don't want to but because they will not receive it! In their hearts and minds, they want blessings, and yet, they cut themselves off from the very source of blessing! Wow! What a revelation!

Do I want God's blessings? His love, joy, peace, eternal life, a home in Heaven where everything will be perfect? Do I want to have victory here, over trials and difficulties?

The “secret” is to “draw near to God” through Christ Jesus and His perfect sacrifice on the Cross. The closer I get to Him, the more He will be able to pour out blessings on me. And they greatest blessing of all is Himself. Our daughter will enjoy the gifts but most of all, she will enjoy being with us. In fact, it would not matter if we could not take her anything, she would be happy to just be able to spend time with us. Oh, how I long to be like that with God! Oh, how He longs for me to love Him like that, in response to His love!

“Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it Jesus is my plea -
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be!”