What God wants in a relationship?

As the news around the world regarding COVID-19 banging in our feeds, I saw myself checking the Book of Revelations while asking God, why?

Marami sigurong nakarelate sa akin, na nagbasa din ng Book of Revelations sa bible no? Haha ‘wag mo na ikahiya, naninigurado ka din e. Anyway, I’m writing my reflections from what I’ve read. I hope this may help you in some way. 😉

Let’s pause for a while, and ask ourselves how is my relationship with the Lord? Kamusta ba kami ni God?

Honestly, kung ako sasagot nyan, for sure I’ll tell myself, “okay lang”, “okay naman kami”. (But deep inside, NOOOOOO. I don’t feel anything that’s why okay lang, I think!)

In chapters two and three of the Book of Revelations (NIV), John greeted the seven churches in Asia:

1. To the Church in Ephesus (Revelations 2:3-5) ^” You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place.”

2. To the Church in Smyrna (Revelations 2:10) ^“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.“

3. To the Church in Pergamum (Revelations 2:14) “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. “

4. To the Church in Thyatira (Revelations 2:20) “ Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.“

5. To the Church in Sardis (Revelations 3:1-3) “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”

6. To the Church in Philadelphia “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”

7. To the Church in Laodicea “ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

As we noticed, God has something against the churches (except for Philadelphia). What is it that God wants?

I realized na gaya ng isang nagmamahal, GOD WANTS US TO:

1. (Ephesus Church) BE SINCERE with our love for Him. He wants our consistency. – ‘Wag lang sana sa una tayo magaling.

2. (Smyrna Church) TRUST HIM fully although we are experiencing pain and hardships along the way. – Tulad ng isang relasyon, walang perpekto. May ups and downs, pero dapat TIWALA lang. Yan ang gusto ni Lord. MagTIWALA sakanya.

3. (Pergamum Church) BE HONEST to Him. God knows everything but He wants to hear it from us. He wants to see His children being accountable and walking in the right direction. -May Tatay ka na, may lover ka pa. San ka pa? 😦

4. (Thyatira Church) BE FAITHFUL to Him. No other god except JESUS CHRIST. (Wala ng explanation pa ang kailangan dito. Alam mo na ‘to 🙂

5. (Sardis Church) Pay FULL ATTENTION to His presence and words. Be in the moment when God is speaking to you or simply, when your pastor is preaching or when you’re having a quiet time (‘wag si crush ang iniisip). Let’s do our part!

6. (Philadelphia Church) Fight for our convictions. FIGHT FOR OUR FAITH in Him until the end. -Ipaglaban mo ang relasyon mo with the Lord. Hindi dahil nayanig ng problema, bibitawan mo na. Laban! Bawal weak! Kung weak ka man or feel mo lang, tumayo ka agad. Bangon!

7. (Laodicea Church) Have an INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with us. God doesn’t want us cold nor lukewarm. He wants us to be on fire for Him. -Sino ba naman ang may gusto ng isang cold na relasyon, aber?

With all of those things, let us have a SELF-CHECK.

Nagagawa ko ba ito para sa relasyon ko kay God?

He loves you, He is waiting for you.