Sometime we start thinking that being a Christian is all about buckling down and doing our duty, as if it’s about following a long list of don’ts. But Jesus says differently. It’s really only about one main thing — love.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" and, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27).

Think of a person whose company you enjoy — someone who brings a big smile to your face when you know they’re coming over. There’s a list of things you want to share and you really want to know what they think too. Being with this person is going to be the highlight of your week.

God enjoys our company. He’s got a whole bunch of things (really good things) he wants to show us, and he really wants to know what’s stirring in our hearts. But do we enjoy his company?

Being a Christian is all about having a close, intimate relationship with the most amazing person in the Universe — to come to understand him more and more: how he thinks, what he loves, and what he doesn’t like.

The more time we spend with him, the more he begins to rub off on us. His love starts to grow in us day by day. It begins to affect our relationships and shift our priorities. We learn how to be a friend like he is, putting the needs of others first and forgiving people who don’t even ask for it, even when it hurts. As we continue to walk in the Spirit and deepen our relationship with Jesus, we become a people marked by remarkable love.

How would you describe your relationship with Jesus? That’s really where it all starts.

updated September 2019