Table of contents for Do You Love Me?

1. Do You Love Me?
2. It’s About the Heart – Throughout the Bible
3. It’s About the Heart – He is Everything
4. It’s About the Heart – A Relationship With God

It’s often said that Christianity is different than any other religion because Christianity is not really a religion as much as it is a relationship.

God created people to have a relationship with Him, and when we sinned, the relationship was broken.  That didn’t stop God from wanting that relationship, it just meant that it would take a perfect sacrifice to make it possible again.

God wants a relationship with us that is real, personal and practical.

God Provided…

In the Bible, we see that God abundantly provided for His People

• Genesis 3:20-21 – God gave Adam and Eve clothing
• Genesis 16:1-13 – God gave Hagar a blessing
• 1 Kings 3:2-13; 4:29-30 – God gave Solomon wisdom, knowledge and riches.
• Mark 6:7-13 – God gave power.
• Acts 12:1-17 – God freed Peter from prison.
• Revelation 1:9-20 – John was given a revelation

God provided in real ways, in personal ways.

Many times, we like to think of God as detached, almost like we put Him in a box.  We believe that He’s almost at our beckon call, waiting to hear from us.  It’s almost like He’s got a crush on us, and we feel guilty if we don’t spend time with Him or talk to Him.  Except, He’s the Creator of the Universe who is at work and He wants a relationship with us, but He’s not begging!

God has not changed.  The relationship that God wants is all about the heart, and it starts with belief in Him—but it doesn’t end there.

Table of contents for Never Alone

1. Introduction
2. Adam
3. Jacob
4. Elijah

Adam.  The first man created by God.  We know very little about this man when compared to some of the other greats in the Bible.  And yet, by him we get the names for the animals, from his rib we have woman, and by him sin entered into the world.

And yet one of the first things that we learn about Adam was that God saw that it was not good for man to be alone. (Gen 2:18)

Adam was alone in the garden.  He was the only one of God’s creation without a partner.  All of the animals had partners, and as God brought them one by one for Adam to name he must have saw the look on Adam’s face to know that Adam was wondering where his partner was.

Was God not enough for Him?

This is a really good question.  God is supposed to be everything we need and more—so wasn’t God enough for Adam?

Man was created as a social being.  That means that he was created for interaction with others.  Though God is always enough, God was not going to be a like companion to Adam.  Adam needed an equal, a human like himself, a companion for life, so God created Eve.

Eve, a Special Creation

Eve was to be one flesh with Adam.  The first man did not have any trouble choosing a bride—she was the perfect bride for him.

Eve was taken from Adam’s side.  I’ve heard it said that it wasn’t from his head so that she could rule over him, or from his feet to be his slave, but from his rib to be his companion.

Eve made Adam no longer alone.  Through all of life, Adam had Eve.  Even after their sin got them kicked out of the Garden of Eden, Eve was still there, and though they were no longer perfect, they were still one.

How’s Your Relationship?

Are you taking advantage of your relationship with your spouse?  God created your spouse and brought them into your life to complete you.  He made her/him special, and they are to make it so that you would never be alone.

Adam didn’t leave Eve because it was “her fault” that they got kicked out of the garden.  They stuck together, and benefited from the companionship for their entire life.

How is your relationship with your spouse?  Have you thanked them lately for making it so that you’re never alone?