A Handful of "Gimme" and a Mouthful of "Much Obliged!"

Yesterday my husband and I went with my parents to eat at a restaurant. We had asked them, but my dad generously offered to pay for our meal. My dad is a funny guy. He knows every joke and quip that has ever been told to him and likes to repeat these things over and over. Yesterday he had a new one. I told him thank you for the meal and in jesting he said, “Well, glad to hear a thank you. Most of the time I hear “gimme and much obliged”. I had never heard this saying before and it struck me as funny. Suddenly, the Lord spoke to my heart and He said, “Many people are like that with Me. While they are in trouble it is ‘I need”, “gimme” and then when I answer the need it is’ much obliged’ and I don’t hear from them again until the next desperate need pops up!” How sad! What fulness there is in truly KNOWING God!
In Philippians 3:10 (Amplified Bible) it says, ”[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [^[b]which it exerts over believers]….” If you want God’s POWER at work in your life, you must be as aquainted with Him as you are with your best friend. We want God’s power many times, but without relationship. How would you feel if the only time your children or your most precious loved one wanted anything to do with you was when they needed something? It would be hurtful wouldn’t it? Wouldn’t you feel used and like the love wasn’t reciprocated? That is how God feels when we only think of Him in a time of need!
Make it your determined purpose, my dear reader, to KNOW God intimately. Talk to Him daily! Read His word for this is how you get to know Him! John 1:1 tells us God and His word are one in the same! If the word is hard for you to understand ask your Heavenly Father to give you revelation! The Bible I read from is the “Amplified”. It is very easy to understand as is “The Message” Bible! Find a church that teaches Jesus and get planted!
When we stop “using” God and start loving Him we will not only see His power work in our lives DAILY, but in the lives of our children, parents, co-workers, and friends. They will spot the difference in you! The Bible says we are the salt of the earth. What does salt do? It makes you thirsty! They will want to drink from the fountain of living water where you have been drinking!
Make it your determined purpose, my precious reader, to know God more intimately. Draw close to Him with, “I am just here to love you!” Instead of “a mouthful of gimme and a handful of “much obliged” and see the blessing of the Lord pour out upon you! Have a blessed day, my dear reader, all day!