RELATIONSHIPS
Scripture Reading - 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 GW (God’s Word)
17 Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.
18 God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships.
19 In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn't hold people's faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others.
Since we spoke about “Discerning the Right Relationships” we (ihlcc) thought it would be good to discuss more about “Relationships”. There are a multitude of “relationships” that each person has in this earth. Some of those “relationships” will carry on into Heaven because “relationships” never die because they are not limited to a human lifetime. Certainly anyone you know here on this earth you will still know in Heaven because your soul is even more alive in Heaven then it is here on earth. Yes, your memory will be even keener in Heaven’s light and all missing pieces of trying to remember someone of old will surely be filled in through the glory of God in Heaven. Of course, since everyone you are in a “relationship” with will not probably go to Heaven the strength of those “relationships” will grow weak and fade away due to the great separation between Heaven and Hell. The general ideal behind “relationships” is having someone in your life you communicate with on a regular basis. The person does not have to be intimately familiar with you but they should know something about you when you communicate with them around a central purpose. You do have a “relationship” with those you relate to on a regular basis whether you realize it or not. For example, you have a “relationship” with your friends, family members and all those who are familiar with you and you are familiar with them (boss, neighbor, lawn serviceman, etc…). Now, we might not think about how many “relationships” we have on given day but it is important to recognize that the feelings of those people you are in a “relationship” with should matter to you. Since love always considers others your communication and conversation (lifestyle) with those around you should represent Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. We (ihlcc) believe it best to classify the various “relationships” you have to be sure you are ministering to them in the best way possible. The key is not how much you speak but rather the content (weight and substance) of your words. Speaking to people in love is the best way to start but corresponding actions of that same love must follow. One myth that we would like to dispel is that love always agrees with the other person. This is false because God is all Love and He does not agree with everything we do. Another myth is that, “If you love me you do whatever I say”. As Christians we are not encouraged by God to follow the words (and motives) of mere men but rather follow the leadings of God’s Holy Spirit under the direction of God’s Word. Loving someone in the Love of God specifically means you treat them in a manner that demonstrates God’s Love (God character). Since, God’s Love is very fluid (adaptable) we must stay sensitive to God’s Holy Spirit to know how to behave ourselves in their presence including how we speak to them and how we treat them privately and publically. As the above scripture states our Heavenly Father is all about restoring “relationships” through our Lord Jesus Christ so we must be dedicated to our restored “relationship” with Him (Our Heavenly Father) and the Lord Jesus Christ to be a successful Christian while on this earth as we prepare our hearts for this continuous “relationship” into Heaven. First and foremost our most valued “relationship” is Jesus Christ moving closer to God, our Heavenly Father. Amen!