Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. Ephesians 15

 When I was employed as a park ranger, I’d visit area schools and talk to students about career opportunities. One suggestion I’d always offer is to find out what you enjoy doing, then find a career that aligns with what pleases you the most. I’d ask kids what they wanted to do and why. I got various responses. One student said he wanted to be a doctor because they made a lot of money. I prodded him further by asking if he enjoyed school and he said not really. Boy, is he in for a big surprise. The average person achieving doctor status will require 10 additional years of education and training. Hopefully he will find this out and chose a different path.

 I share this story to ask, if you claim to be a Christian, why did you choose to do so? Was it because you didn’t want to go to Hell? That makes sense, but if that’s your only reason, then you truly have missed the mark of why accepting Jesus Christ is so important. It’s not as much about being “saved” as it is having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Let’s face it, if you truly want to live like a Christian, you know it is difficult in this world to hold true to God’s standards. The effort it takes to stay engaged in your everyday spiritual life can be a struggle.

 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30

 But, when you bond with Christ (as the verse above says), your personal relationship with Him will make life more simple, easy to follow, because you will want to please God, not just do the right things to “maintain” your Christian status. James 4:8 says when you draw near to God, He draws near to you. Why would you want to live any other way?

 God chose you before the creation of the world. You accepted His invitation to enter into a relationship with your redeemer, Jesus Christ. Pursue that relationship, just as you would with your children or spouse, and you’ll find a rewarding and blessed bond with the One who calls you His own! God bless!