Dr. Dan Hayden • 

True love isn’t a thing – it’s a person. Some people seem to fall in love with love. But it’s a whole lot better to be in love with a person—somebody special.

In Matthew 16:24 when Jesus said, “If any person will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me,” He intended for it all to be very personal. “Come after me.” You see, Christianity is not just a set of beliefs. Christianity is a Person – the Person of Jesus Christ.

Years ago W.H. Griffeth Thomas wrote an apologetic for the Christian faith, and he entitled his book “Christianity is Christ.” Isn’t it amazing how we get so caught up with programs and projects and ministries of the church that we tend to forget the essence of it all – a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. He said, “Come after me.” He wants our relationship to be personal.

 

Years ago I was counseling a couple on their struggling marriage. The husband didn’t have a clue as to what the problem was, so I asked the wife to explain what was wrong. She said, “Oh pastor, my husband is a good man. He’s an excellent provider. He’s faithful to our marriage, but he never shows an interest in me, personally. He’s so tied up in his projects that he never notices I’m there.

Hey—think about it. Is it possible that that’s the way it is between us and the Lord? We’re so busy with our ministries that we neglect the most important thing of all – the joy of fellowshiping with Christ Himself? In our pursuit of salvation, Jesus intends that our relationship should be very personal. He said, “If any person will come after me.”

So—what do you think? Do you walk with the Lord, or do you just go to church?