Do you have a relationship with Jesus?

Repeat, relationship. The question is not whether you believe in Jesus. Many do. A relationship with Jesus is much more.

It is not merely turning up at church on a Sunday morning, then living like the rest of society from Monday to Saturday.

When knocking on doors, this writer has heard many times: "I´ve got my religion." You may have, but do you know Jesus? He said "And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3.

God wants to know each one of us in the same way we know a personal friend. The latter is not someone distant, a passing stranger, someone who is a "nodding acquaintance."

In a human sense, to know someone is to speak to them regularly, to understand their thinking, to see them frequently, to trust in them, to confide in them. That´s the kind of relationship God wants with you – and it is possible.

Sad to say, Jesus doesn´t get first place in the "busy" schedule of some who call themselves Christians. The greatest business anyone can be about is the Lord´s business.

What does it really mean to know God? Daily trust in the Almighty; taking every situation to him for advice; asking him for help in circumstances beyond your control; thanking him for a new day; thanking him before eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. It means talking to him through the day, last thing at night and first thing in the morning.

Knowing Jesus means treating him as though he were visible and occupying a lounge chair in your house. This is what he wants. You can be sure he hears you, for he says he is with you always, even to the end of the age – if you will believe first.

A person who knows Jesus will regard him as the ultimate VIP. Nothing and no-one will be more important.

To have that attitude you need to rise above the fog of carnality and the mist of the five senses that enshroud you and prevent you from seeing what is divine. God is like the sunshine you see from a jetliner after it climbs above the blanket of cloud. When the plane takes off the sun is shining, but you don´t see it until you get above the clouds.

Imagine having the creator of the universe as your personal friend. The one who puts the sun and moon in the sky and paints it blue wants to be your daily adviser and helper.

That is as high above "religion" as the peak of Mount Everest is from the snake slithering in the desert.

Your first step toward this friendship and relationship with God must be to trust Jesus. He says "no-one comes to the Father except by Me." Believe he is whom he says. Believe he is risen from the dead. Ask him to pilot you through this thing called life.

Do it, and you will find everything said in this article will come true for you.

[For the sake of typographical appearance, capitals have not been used when referring to the Deity.]