I don’t have anything new to say today.  Sometimes I think that it would be nice always to be ready at a moment’s notice to share a fresh new perspective on any nook or cranny of Christian life.  The Lord has other plans for us.  Sometimes we’re more eager for a fresh idea than for the abiding truth we already know.  The fact is, He’s already given us everything that we need to follow Him and to know Him intimately.  We have His sweet Spirit living in our hearts.  We have His Word to hide in our hearts too.   Jesus lives forever as our intercessor: telling His Father everything that we need before we know we need it.

In spite of opposition, the Bible is more available today than any previous era.  As for prayer, no one can take it away from us.  Even Corrie ten Boom spent time with her Savior while in a Nazi concentration camp.  Following Christ and building a relationship with Him is simple.  It’s just that we must surrender our entire lives to do it.

Even during Jesus’ time on earth, people had this same struggle against the straightforwardness of the Gospel.  This is why Jesus went out of His way to make His words straightforward to us.

And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’This is the great and foremost commandment.The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
~Matthew 22:37-40

That’s not to say we should reject a deeper understanding of the Scriptures.  On the contrary, a deeper relationship with our dear Lord will require a deeper understanding of who He is.  It requires time alone with Him, but also time in service to His people.  If your Christian life seems unfruitful, it may mean coming back to these basics.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
~John 13:34, 35

Never underestimate what it means to the Lord to put others before yourself.  It was Jesus Himself who humbled Himself to birth and death among a sinful race, making Himself the lowest servant of all.  When we imitate that love, we delight His heart.  Not only that, we make more room in our hearts for Him to fill us with His holy love.  It’s nothing new.  He never changes.

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
~John 3:30