Graduate Perspective
FINDING JOY IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
Josiah Norrie, CCS 2019 Graduate
As I look beyond graduation and what God has for my future, He has been showing me how to turn my faith in Jesus into a PASSION for Jesus. Being a Christian isn’t just a title or a belief for me. It is a relationship with Jesus that I want to be evident in every area of my life. God is showing me three specific areas that can help my relationship with Jesus define my life and not just be a part of it.
First, I must understand what a true relationship with God is. A relationship with Christ begins with saving faith.
The three basic parts of saving faith are knowing the facts of the gospel, agreeing with our need for forgiveness of sin, and choosing to trust in Christ alone for salvation. Most people will gladly depend on Christ for their salvation; however, not as many will trust God by fully submitting their lives to Him. The truth is that if we want to make Jesus our passion, we need to trust Him with our lives. Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight yourselves in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” The more time that I spend with God, the more His desires become my desires. My relationship with Jesus becomes filled with JOY and serving Him becomes my passion.
Secondly, I must be willing to obey. Obedience to God not only brings me joy, but brings me freedom. There is such freedom in knowing that I am doing exactly what God wants me to do. Obedience to God will bring me true satisfaction and joy! God will not force obedience, but He longs for me to choose Him over everything the world has to offer. Choosing to obey God despite the personal sacrifice or consequences is what develops a passion for Jesus.
Finally, once I am finding joy in my relationship with Christ and have fully submitted my life to Him, I can live with an eternal perspective. Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth…but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven…for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” I should live with a mindset that anticipates Christ’s return and an eternity with God. Choosing to pursue eternal things instead of earthly things changes my perspective. I can passionately pursue Jesus by focusing on and investing in others for the glory of God.
“I Choose Joy” was our school’s theme for my senior year. This can become a reality in your life when you choose to enjoy your relationship with God, trust Him fully, and invest in the lives of others with an eternal perspective.