Question to Ponder/Approach Question:
What is your most memorable relationship experience and why?

Observations:
I asked myself the reasons Jesus appointed the twelve?
1. That they might be with Him.
2. That He might send them out to preach.
3. And to have power to heal sicknesses.
4. To cast out demons.

Interpretation/Application:
I asked myself what is the significance of  'That they might be with Him'?
We see that Jesus' heart was set on developing personal relationships with people. Jesus' main reason for appointing the twelve is 'that they might be with Him.'

This is very significant because I believe the entire ministry of Jesus is focused on personal relationships. Foremost, Jesus wanted the twelve to have a personal relationship with Him before they can do anything such as preaching, healing, etc. This is very exciting too because it shows Jesus taking the initiative. Jesus wanted to spend time with the twelve and train them in that time too. This training was done when the disciples would hear from Him and talk to Him. This is what was needed before they could engage in ministry whether it be preaching, healing sicknesses, or casting out demons. The ministry is an out flowing of their relationship with the Lord.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life as I reflected on this statement more since last night's Transformers small group of Oakland International Fellowship led by Daniel Spector. I was excited when Daniel asked me to share my insights about this verse with him, Matt, Olivia, Winston, Melissa, Kimberly, Vicki, Ohm, Rebecca, Ray, and Pastor Ed.

What I briefly shared is incorporated into today's devotional which is more detailed.

It is wonderful to know that when Jesus calls me to be His, it is not just so I can have Salvation but for a much bigger picture. Jesus wants me to be with Him to hear Him and talk to Him. He wants me to be wanted and loved. Being with Jesus and learning from Him is the best experience I can have. It is emphasized first over preaching, healing sicknesses, and casting out demons because without that personal relationship, I won't be effective in ministry or my relationship with Him.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The main thing Jesus wants from me is that I might be with Him. This  is really exciting because Jesus wants to spend time with me. He loves me so much and wants me to develop a personal relationship with Him. Through that relationship, He wants to train me and make me His faithful worker so that I can go out to preach, heal, or do whatever He has called me to do!

It is significant for me to know that preaching and healing are not emphasized before spending time with Jesus even though they are very important too.

Jesus wants me to hear from Him which I do by reading His Word and listening to Him. Jesus wants me to talk to Him which I do by praying His Word and sharing my life with Him. That's what He wants for me individually and communally. It is so interesting that Jesus wanted all the disciples to be with him which emphasizes a community before they can preach, heal, etc. He wants me to be in community too. 

I should not let anything crowd out my times with the Lord whether it be sleep, studies, jobs, activities, relationships, games, etc. Jesus knew the hectic schedule of his disciples too, for each of them had a profession to make their living. Jesus took them to a mountainside where I suppose it would be a quiet place that they might be with him.

A relationship with Him is what Jesus desires for me. Without that personal relationship with Christ, everything I do in life will not have the same effect or meaning than it would with my personal relationship with Christ. The preaching, healing, and casting of demons were the fruit that were to come as the disciples spent time with Jesus. The fruit and impact of ministry is based upon my own time with the Lord. Thank you Jesus.

It is very interesting to know that Jesus trained the disciples and empowered them not only to meet peoples' spiritual needs (preaching/casting out demons) but also to meet people's physical and emotional needs (overcoming sicknesses/demon possession). Jesus cares for the whole of the person.

I ask you now dear friend why be in a R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P with Jesus by giving Him time?
Dear friend, what I learned today tells me that nothing is more important than spending time with the Master daily, learning from Him and talking to Him. It is KNOW HIM and be KNOWN BY HIM. Everything else should be secondary and flows from our relationship with Jesus.

Ministry or whatever we do in our life should be an out flowing of our relationship with the Lord. In life we need to be led, taught, and preached to by the Master Himself to be effective. I know I need to spend at the feet of Jesus and in His Word daily, praying and seeking Him if I want clear direction in my life and to have strength to do what He calls me to do. It is not an easy process.

I am reminded of a passage from Luke 10:38-42 that addresses a relationship with Jesus.

Martha was so concerned about doing things for Jesus when she opened her door to Him but Mary wanted to sit at Jesus' feet and learn from Him. Jesus was telling Martha that Mary BEING WITH Jesus pleased Him more than Martha DOING THINGS FOR Jesus.

It was important for me to realize that I can do, do, and do so much for Jesus thinking I am pleasing Him but you know that actually would not please Jesus as we may think it does if we are not doing things with Jesus too. What would please Jesus is that we do, do, do things WITH Jesus. There is a major difference doing things for someone and doing things with someone. Jesus wants to be a daily part of our lives and wants us to do things with Him. Jesus loves us so much and desires to spend time with us.

But BEING with Jesus or DOING things for Jesus cannot even begin if we don't have a relationship with Jesus KNOWING JESUS.

Friend, Jesus loves you so much that Jesus wants you to come to KNOW HIM as your Lord and Personal Savior. Jesus spent so much time with the disciples because He wanted them to KNOW HIM. Jesus wants us to KNOW HIM too.

Being in a relationship with Jesus also means He will help us deal with the sin in our lives. Jesus knew that humanity's relationship with God is so marred that they cannot have a solid relationship with the Lord because of sin in their lives. It is this sin that Jesus came to abolish and take away. Yes, friend while we were yet sinners Jesus Christ died for us so that we can be reconciled to God and have a personal relationship with Him.

Jesus did that for the disciples and for us too. Jesus went to the cross of Calvary and lay His life upon that rugged cross so that those who look to Him will be saved. We can look to Jesus and be saved.

We need to be saved because the bondage of sin will not only hurt us from having a positive relationship with God but with other human beings too. Sin has infected all of us and only the antidote offered by Christ's sacrificial death can restore our relationship with Father God. The antidote which is the precious cleansing blood of Christ has been offered and we need to take it in.

We need Jesus to cleanse us of all our sins and set us free so God in His Holiness can have a relationship with us. Yes, friend because of what Jesus Christ did, we can have that relationship.

Jesus wanted a relationship with the disciples to restore them to Father God and wants that same relationship with us. It starts with KNOWING, BEING, and DOING. This is a principle I was reminded of by my dear brother Keng who is in seminary now.

Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and came back to life on the 3rd day to save. That is exciting to know friend that we are loved by God.

If God be for us who can be against us! Jesus is God and it is wonderful to have a relationship with Jesus KNOWING, BEING, and DOING.

Won't you take time out of your 24 hr day schedule to spend with Jesus studying His Word, praying, and seeking Him?

Don’t base it on feelings because that’s what Satan loves to emphasize. Satan will make you feel like you are not in the mood to do it so why bother. Satan will also whisper since you are not in the mood to do it, it is not genuine time so why bother. Satan will also whisper that you are doing it as an obligation not because you want to so you should not do it. Don’t listen to those lies.

Even when we do not feel like spending time with the Lord, if we are faithful and obedient because Scripture states to meditate on His Word day and night and not to let His Word depart from us, He will make us prosperous and successful by his definition and not the world's definition of prosperity and success.

"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."  (Joshua 1:8-9, NIV)

Even if Satan brings to your attention that you are doing it legalistically without your heart in it, ignore Satan’s whispers. As you spend time with the Lord even when you do not feel like it, Jesus will meet you there! I know He will because He has met me there! Do not go by feelings. The amount of time you spend should be between you and the Lord.

I hope you do not go by feelings when it comes to your relationship with Jesus! Feelings can be deceptive but hold on to Jesus and you will be holding on to hope!

What could be more important than giving your time to the One who created you, made you so special and knows what He wants for your life!

Think about your own relationships with other people whether they are on solid ground or on sinking sand and ask yourself why?

The more time I spend with my wife, the more she feels loved to and the more our relationship grows. I need to give that special time to my wife Chandra so we can build our relationship. It is no different with the Lord Jesus. The more time we spend with Jesus, through His Word and prayer, the more we will grow in Him and our relationship will be on solid ground instead of on sinking sand.

What is more important is the quality of time spent than the quantity of time but I have realized in my own life the more quantity of time I spend that is quality time, the more I grow too. Each of us has busy schedules but I know the Lord desires to spend time with us daily and we can find a time with Him as we seek Him through the day even if that means 15 minutes without interruption with His Word and prayer.

When Rick, my brother in Christ asked me what helps me the most to have a positive outlook on life, I was so blessed to be able to share about the difference Christ makes in my life as I have my relationship with the Lord. I was also so blessed to hear about how Kimberly, my sister in Christ memorizes a Bible verse each day to help her in life.

Memorizing Scripture and utilizing it is something I told my friend Rick that helps me to be positive when I claim God's promises whether my life has been peachy or not. I shared with him Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28, and Psalm 50:15. I was reminded of that when reflecting on today's devotional about why be in a relationship with Jesus by giving Him time.

Friend, your life will come to perspective as you will see the Lord's guidance in your life as you seek Him first. Ask Jesus to be part of your life and allow Him to lead you daily. You will draw so much strength and guidance from the Lord! One of my most exciting times in the morning is to open up the Bible and see what God wants to speak to me!  

He will guide you in your career, your relationships, ministry He has called you to, academics, etc as you give Him first place.

May we give the Lord first place in our lives before everything and learn from Him. As we spend time with Him, may we have the passion and zeal to go out and preach the Gospel, be empowered to heal the sick,  cast out demons, or whatever He has empowered us to do for the Lord Jesus will equip you, enable you, and empower you to do His will for His glory.

May our relationship with the Lord prompt us to make moral issues a priority in this election especially issues such as the protecting of the unborn, protecting the sanctity of marriage, taking care of the poor, etc.

We as followers of Christ can make a difference in this election as we seek His face, pray daily, and VOTE THE BIBLE. Let it be a relationship with Christ that pleases Him by our actions even as simple as pulling a lever on the voting machine.

As we rest in the arms of the Savior daily, He will give us the wisdom to be able to do whatever He asks us! Being empowered to heal does not just mean physical ailments but emotional ailments, etc. As important as preaching and healing were to Jesus, He always made spending time with God a priority.

May we sacrifice our own pleasures that we might get time to spend with the Master daily. Our education, our vote, and everything else will fall into perspective as we seek the Lord first.

Never feel you are inadequate to be used by the Lord for He can use you in mighty ways if you make yourself available to Him.

Do you know someone who needs to hear the Gospel?

Do you know someone who needs healing and restoration in their lives?

You be the one to give them the Gospel and bring healing and restoration in their lives. Take everything to the Lord in prayer even if you do not understand why things happen the way they do. We cannot understand everything but the Lord's wisdom and strength can give us endurance to get through! Amen!

Lord wants to REVIVE you and me friend as we spend our time with Him! Yes, He does! Thank you Jesus! Amen!

Blood and the Flood
(c) 2008, By Ramesh C. Reddy

Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Taking away sin's flood, my Lord

I was so lost
You came to pay the cost
Jesus, You are the Way
Cleansing me day by day

Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Taking away sin's flood, my Lord

I was so lost
You came to pay the cost
Jesus, You are the Life
Freeing me from sin's strife

Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Taking away sin's flood, my Lord

I was so lost
You came to pay the cost
Jesus, You are the Truth
Making me bear Fruit

Thank you for the Blood, my Lord
Taking away my sin's flood, my Lord

I was so lost
You came to pay the cost
At the Cross at Calvary's Hill
Paying my ransom bill!

Amen!

"I will instruct you and guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch your progress" says the Lord. (Psalm 32:8, TLB)

The purpose of today's devotional was for me to realize that Jesus wants to spend time with me and I need to spend time with Jesus, to be in a relationship with Him, which will be a catalyst to bear fruit in my life.

“Realize Everyday Lord’s Aspirations Totally Involve Our Nurture So He Invites People” (R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P)/"Why be in a relationship with Jesus by giving Him time?"

Prayer: 
Dear Lord Jesus, we come to you now and thank you so much that you chose the disciples that they might be with you. It is exciting to know that you want to spend time with us. It is so easy to be caught up in the notion that we need to spend time with you but the fact of the matter is that you want to spend time with us if we give you the time. Thank you so much Jesus. During that time we thank you that you can train us and empower us, making us the way you want us to be as you also help us do what you want us to do. Forgive us when we do not give you first place in our lives. We are so sorry Lord. Thanks for always being there for us and we do rest in you Lord. Please make our times with you exciting even though at times you have to prune us and we do not feel like being pruned or giving you the time because of selfishness.  Forgive us for that Lord. I thank you for dying for our sins and coming back to life to save us. Thank you for loving us so much and always making time to hear us as we seek you. You have to be in a relationship with us and that is so exciting. Thank you Lord that you never get tired of hearing from us but you have inclined your ears to listen to us. In Your Name We Pray Jesus praising you and thanking you for everything! Amen!

"May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I still struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me to. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!