The Bible is the greatest literary work ever, written by the Greatest Author ever (God Himself), about the Greatest Person ever (Jesus Christ), taught by the Greatest Teacher ever (The Holy Spirit). 66 books written over the course of 1,500 years by 40 different authors with one remarkable theme. From Genesis to Revelation – and at least 30 times in between – God specifically reveals His heart’s desire:

“I want to be your God and I want you to be My People.”

He wants a RELATIONSHIP. It’s not just religion, it’s not what church you attend, it’s not what language you speak or what clothes you wear. God is always, always, always working on YOUR HEART because that’s what He wants more than anything. The Creator of the universe actually wants to know you and hang out with you – and not just on a Sunday morning in some building somewhere. Amazing!

If He just wanted to be the imposing, better-not-mess-up-or-I’ll-get-you kind of god some people imagine, then He would have stopped with, “I want to be your God.” But the addition of “I want you to be My people” necessarily implies He wants it to be a two-way street of LOVE and all that goes with a True Love relationship.

Someone who understood this perfectly was the writer of Psalm 119, the longest chapter in all the Bible with 176 verses each proclaiming the two-way nature of a great Relationship. (You know, in case you need this fundamental truth slightly reinforced.) 21 times in that chapter you’ll find the words “heart” and “soul.” Four times, you’ll find “with all my heart.” Read each verse closely and you’ll mostly see the pattern of “those” and “Him”; “they” and “His”; “You” and “we”; “my” and “Your”; “I” and “Your”; and on and on…

God wants your heart but you don’t have to give it to Him. True Love necessitates a choice. But all choices have consequences. Choose to give your heart to the Lord. Choose to let Him be your God. Choose to become one of His people. Choose a relationship with Him instead of just a religion about Him.

“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.'” – Matthew 7:22-23