Relationships work when individuals come in with no delusions. Some people believe that the other person in their relationship must fulfill their every need and make them complete. When I say relationships, I am not speaking of just a man and a woman. This pertains to any relationship; parents and children, siblings, friends, co-workers or neighbors. The truth is we can search high and low on this earth and we will not find another human being to give us what we need to be complete. This is why we see divorce on the rise, we see families falling apart, we see disorder and confusion in the homes, in our communities, and yes even in the body of Christ, the church. Most people find it difficult to accept a person for who they really are and be willing to help them become the best version of themselves. That takes compassion, patience, selflessness, humility, and kindness. It takes loving someone unconditionally. This is not easy if we don’t know who we are and Whose we are. In order to be successful in any relationship, we must return to the One who loved us first, the One who can complete us, and the One who loves us unconditionally.
“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)
“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:19-20)
In my humble opinion we as humans use the word love too loosely when it comes to relationships. The word flows from our mouth but our actions do not follow. As a Believer and follower of Christ this should not be so. God created us to love, we are called to first love Him and then to love others as He loves us. This is not optional but a command that reflects our identity in Christ. Our ability to love others is a reflection of our relationship with God. If we truly know God, His love will naturally flow through us to others. It is a characteristic of those who sincerely follow Christ.
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
“We love each other because he loved us first… If someone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar.” (1 John 4:19-20)
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18)
Jesus Christ displayed the highest, most purest form of love on the cross when He who was sinless took our place for our sins. He literally died for us so that we would no longer be separated from God and can continue living through physical death and have eternal life with God. Jesus died for us because he loves us. God reveals His own love for us by sacrificing His only Son while we were still sinners.
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,” (1 Peter 3:18)
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Can you imagine another human being loving you like this and you returning that same love? Don’t you agree that this world would be a better place? This kind of love does not come naturally to us because of our sinful fleshly being. However, it does come naturally to God and is an essential part of Him. By drawing closer to Him and experiencing His love, we can begin to understand what real love means. Only through Him can we show and experience true love. True love isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction but from a choice that we make. A choice that we make knowing that God is working in and through us to love like Him. It requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return. The absence of such love shows a lack of a genuine relationship with God because He is love.
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10)
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6:37)
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3)
The most important relationship we can have is with our Lord and Savior. He desires a relationship with us and He wants us to have healthy, loving relationships with others. He planted within each one of us the need to love and be loved. If we have a relationship with Him and we are spending quality time in His presence there is no way His love will not rub off on us toward others. When we surrender to Him, the Holy Spirit will teach and guide us so that we can love like Him in spite of our flesh. Scripture defines what love is and how we should love; “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) This is how we are called to love. We can start by going back to our first love, the Lord God Almighty. Let us go back to His Word and apply it to our relationships. It will transform us and our relationships for the glory of God. Love and Blessings…
“Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” (Genesis 2:18)
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)
“Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” (Philippians 2:1-2)
EMMANUEL 