Blossoming Relationship

With Jesus...

I got stuck in traffic yesterday morning. And instead of getting bent out of shape, I just picked up my Bible and started reading John 6. I came across a couple of verses that I've overlooked a hundred times:

28) Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" 29) Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."

This struck me funny. To work the works of God - believe in Him. So I asked a friend his opinion. He told me that Jesus invites us into relationship with him. Our belief and faith grows as we take the time to know Him and His character. You would not believe in someone you did not know, and to know someone takes time, effort and understanding. So true. Building a relationship can be "work."

Then today's page-a-day calendar was this:

A young Irishman, Joseph Scriven (1820-1886), was deeply in love with a young woman, and their marriage plans had been made. The night before their wedding, however, she drowned in a tragic accident. For months Scriven was bitter, in utter despair. At last he turned to Christ, and through His grace, found peace and comfort. out of this experience he wrote the familiar hymn that has brought consolation to millions..."What a friend we have in Jesus / All our sins and griefs to bear!" ... Even sorrows turn to blessings when they make us less attached to the earth and more attached to God. Then ... we discover that Jesus truly is our friend - "All our sins and griefs to bear!"

How much time do you spend cultivating a relationship with Jesus? Is He truly a friend that's closer than a brother?