Last week, we talked about building our character, which was represented by first base. The week, we’re on second base discussing why relationships (founded in Christian love) are so important!
If God is anything, He is a God who is all about relationship. From the beginning of creation, God planned for us to be in relationship with Him.
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. … Genesis 1:26
Notice two things:
1. God has always existed in relationship –God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost are represented in this verse by “us.” The Trinity is the most powerful display of relationship that exists.
2. He wants us to be like the Trinity, always in “relationship,” not only with each other, but most importantly with Him.
So many of the Bible’s characters are portrayed by their relationship with God. Noah “walked in close fellowship with God” Genesis 6:9. Abraham was told by God, “I will always be your God” Genesis 17:7. We could continue through the lives of Moses, Joshua, and David as well as many others. God desires to be close to us and to be a part of our daily lives, even in the ‘small things.’
In addition to our relationship with Him, God also provides direction on our relationships with others:
“Honor your father and mother.” Exodus 20:12
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her. Ephesians 5:25
But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! … Matthew 5:44
Certainly, we can have various relationships with other people without God being the center of those relationships, but they will not be as fulfilling as when He is there among us. Yet, we cannot achieve relationship with God or others without being in the most important relationship of all –one with Jesus.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17
When we have a relationship with Christ, we are able to achieve not necessarily “perfect” relationships, but relationships that are solid, trustworthy, loving, and peaceful. Amazingly, among all the instruction in the Bible, the topic of relationship still trumps them all:
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39
Before you leave second base and head to third, check on your relationships this week:
1. Are you in a true, authentic relationship with Christ?
2. Are your relationships with others influenced by the love of Christ?
Let Jesus teach you what true relationship is all about, and let that guide your relationships with others. If you do, you will soon find yourself surrounded by those who you will consider to be your real family, and life will be much sweeter!
Blessings!
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Great analogy of using baseball to show how we’re progressing in our relationship with God.
I love your emphasis on relationship. It’s mind-blowing to think the God of the universe WANTS to be in relationship with us and that He so much to teach us through our relationships with one another. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Rachel for the feedback! Yes, God is so amazing and much more than we deserve. We are so blessed to be in relationship with Him. Humbles me everyday.