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Weekly Devotions

Relationships-May 20,2019

Relationships. They are very important and they come in all shapes and sizes.

Monday Morning Devotion-May20, 2019

 

> Revisited from 11 years ago.

Relationships

 

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you in order to bring praise to God.

                                   Romans 15:7

 

      "A relationship is a specific connection between objects, entities or concepts."  Man, that sounds awfully formal doesn't it?  We hear, so frequently, about the importance of building relationships.  To me that always conjures up a picture of friendship, warmth and caring.  In other words, there's more to a relationship than this dictionary definition implies. 

            Relationships exist in many different areas and on a lot of different levels for all of us.  Sometimes we are affected directly and often indirectly by the relationships that we have or don't have.   Am I sounding like a Psychologist yet?  No way!  I'm just trying to stimulate your thinking about the relationships in your life, their importance and why caretaking is necessary.

            First of all, there is no such thing as an easy, effortless relationship.  It's true that some solid relationships don't require great effort to maintain them.  These are great.  They fulfill a purpose in our lives.  Actually, I view this kind as a direct gift from God.

            I'm sure you know the type of relationship being referenced here.  A friend who, you may not see that often, maybe only a card at Christmas, an occasional phone call, or a stray email here or there.  But, you know beyond any shadow of doubt that if you were in need that friend would be there for you.  Solid gold relationships.  That's what these are.

            Basically, when you "shuck it on down to the cob" to use one of motivational speaker John Riley's expressions, the main way that a relationship develops is by having common ground with another person.  You have a mutual interest, association, need or some other way in which your paths cross.  Sometimes this occurs unexpectedly and at other times it is planned.

            On Pentecost Sunday (May 11, 2008) our Pastor Betsy talked about the Holy Spirit's descending to earth as described in Acts 2: 1-4.  There were 15 different nations there, speaking in different languages.  The common ground they shared was the Passover Celebration of the Harvest in Jerusalem.  It was 50 days after Easter.   But, many of these could not communicate with each other because of the language barrier. 

            Yet when the Holy Spirit came upon them with "a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire" suddenly they could all understand each other.  They now became "followers of the Way."  3,000 became believers that day.  Now, they had a common ground---Christianity.  Relationships were formed.  These relationships created communities and because of their shared beliefs, they cared for each other and individual lives were changed. 

            In our churches today, we find these kinds of relationships.  Whenever I'm out in the community or anywhere else and I run into another member of Good Samaritan Church there is an instant connection we experience.  We have a shared, common ground.  A bond!  Based on that we have a relationship.

            Now, that's a good thing.  Just because we have a relationship and share the same beliefs does that mean we agree on everything and this relationship always runs smoothly?  No way!  Think about the relationship with your spouse, your children, your parents, or any other relationship you have.  Does it always go the way you would like for it to?  No, but that is not the object of any relationship you have. Strong, meaningful relationships transcend petty differences because they are more important than the disagreement. 

            The Quest Study Bible (QSB pg. 1569) in commenting on today's scripture says: "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Then asks the question: "Can Christians agree on everything?"  It says, "No!  But, the goal is not to think alike or avoid all disagreements.  The goal is to glorify God.  We can strive for a unity in Christ that supersedes our preferences and personalities.  Our differences need not divide us.  In fact, our diversity can enable us to multiply our praise and service for God.  Various gifts can combine for greater glory to God."

            Is that a great observation or what?  Our differences can make our relationships even stronger.  If we have a common goal, but differ in ways to achieve it, this means we are exploring different ideas.  We are considering different ways to look at the situation.  When we consider all the options, then subvert our own selfish desires to the good of the overall achievement of the goal, everyone benefits.  The relationship is strengthened.   You just feel better about it. 

            Ephesians 4:13 speaks of preparing God's people for works of service so the body of Christ may be built up.  We are seeking unity.  Does this mean unanimity in these relationships within a body of believers.?  No!  The QSB says, "Christ's work on the cross is the basis for spiritual unity.  Christians are united over the essentials of the faith (such as the authority of scripture, human sinfulness and need for a Savior, the deity of Christ, his death and resurrection, his promised return and so on.)  But, on less crucial matters Christians don't always agree.  Believers can differ over non-essentials without being spiritually divided."

            So, actually the most important thing in a relationship when differences occur is the relationship.  After all, the common ground you shared that caused the relationship to be formed in the first place is what counts.  It was important enough to create a relationship and it is important enough to preserve the relationship, even when outside forces cause it to become strained. 

            Relationships are a wonderful thing. Be thankful for each one and work hard to maintain them.

Monday Prayer:  Lord it is apparent the things that strain our good relationships are caused by outside forces.  When these differences occur, help us to come to you and return us to the things that helped us establish these relationships in the first place.  We thank and praise you for the relationships we have.  Amen!

 

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