Growing Relationships

As I reflect this morning on my relationship with God, His Word, and with people, I’m noticing a pattern.  The more time I spend with God, His Word, and His people, the deeper and stronger these relationships become.  When our identity and our relationships become what God designed for us, it changes everything.

As the Holy Spirit guides us to all truth, we learn to function by God’s design.   We who believe are becoming a spiritual family.  We are becoming a house, a dwelling place for the Spirit of God.  We are brothers and sisters in Christ.  We belong together because of what Jesus did for us.  He completely destroyed the barriers between us that produced hostility.  He’s made peace with and between us. We’ve been reconciled to God and to one another through Christ.  And that changes everything.

Since we are loved, we love.  Since we are forgiven, we forgive.  Since we are saved by grace, we show grace.  Since God showered us with kindness, we shower kindness on one another.  Since we are God’s masterpiece, we treat ourselves and one another as God’s masterpiece.  Since we belong to God’s family, we treat one another as brothers and sisters.  Since God is always present to help us in our times of need, we help one another in times of need.  Since we belong and are united through Christ, we are committed to one another.  We love one another deeply from the heart. 

If you’ve continued to read this blog, and you haven’t shut down your screen because you have too much to do today, you’re bound to have some reactions.  Wait a minute.  Do we really function like we belong to God and one another as family?  Are we becoming closer and more like Christ as we go through difficult times together?  Or do we pull away from one another when we’re hurting or upset with each other?  Are we going out of our way to help one another throughout the day and week to lighten the load or to help solve our problems?  Are we spending time praying for one another, or are we becoming part of the answer to one another’s prayers? 

The Word of Christ and the peace of Christ don’t dwell richly in our hearts when we’re in a hurry.  When we’re too busy to listen deeply or help meet a need or solve a problem, we’re way too busy.  We cannot develop into Christlike people and have deeply connected relationships as brothers and sisters in Christ when we’re too busy.  We cannot microwave healthy and meaningful relationships.  Developing relationships that are seasoned by God’s Word and God’s love requires extended and continuous time together.  We linger with those we love.  We make time for what’s most important—for what or who we are connected deeply with each and every day. 

Some of us are married to our jobs.  Some of us are married to social media.  Some of us are married to our problems.  Some of us are married to our church.  Some of us are married to video games.  Some of us are married to our anxiety and worries.  Some of us are completely invested in just making more money.  Some of us are absorbed with pursuing more health and strength.  Some of us have spent our entire lives being too busy to become deeply connected to God, to ourselves, and to one another.  Maybe it’s time for a change.  We were made for so much more.  Sometimes doing less is more!

How I thank God for the Spirit-Driven people and groups I’m connected with, people who can’t seem to get enough time together.  We thrill to be together.  We share what’s going on in our lives.  We stop and help one another.  We’re not in a hurry to leave one another to go and do something else.  We linger.  We listen.  We give our lives, our time, our attention, and our resources to one another.  We don’t try to be who we aren’t.  We don’t try to give what we don’t have.  We just keep showing up and being who God made us to be.  We’re different.  We don’t fit in to anyone’s box.  We’re misfits.  Our lifestyles and values are very different from our culture.  But different is good because God made us different.  And He’s making us into a beautiful masterpiece to do the good things He planned for us to do together long ago. 

What sparked your strongest reaction from today’s blog?

What do you feel compelled to do?

Go 4 it!

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