" THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIP(S)"

Good morning to you all, it's truly my prayer that you and your families are doing well. You know I truly believe that we should be responsible minded when it comes to sustaining our relationships. Yes it takes work maintaining our relationship(s) and I'm of the school of thought that we must go the extra mile.

My dictionary defines relationship(s) as the state of being related or interrelated. (2) The relation connecting or binding participants in a relationship: A: kinship B: a specific instance or type of kinship.

God's family is accepting and doesn't exclude anyone. Jesus did not show partially; he allowed everyone the privilege of obeying God and becoming part of his family. Now, in our increasingly computerized, impersonal world, warm relationships among members of God's family take on major importance. The Body of Christ can give loving and personalized care that many people find nowhere else. Jesus explained that in our spiritual family, the relationships are ultimately more important and longer lasting than those formed in our physical families.

Just in case some of you may need clarification, the family of God includes all who have believed in him in the past. All who believe in the present, and all who believe in the future. We are all family because we have the same father. If we want to receive God's blessings, it is important that we stay in contact with other believers in the body of Christ. Those who isolate themselves from God's family and try to go it alone cut themselves off from God's power.

Broken relationships can impede our relationship with God. If we have a problem or grievance with a friend, we should resolve the problem as soon as possible. We are pretenders if we claim to love God while we hate others. Our attitudes toward others reflect our relationship with God. A right relationship with God leads to right relationships with fellow believers. Although we will not always feel loving toward all other believers, we must pursue peace as we become more Christlike.

Christian fellowship is truly caring for and loving those in your sphere of influence. Are you you praying for those whom you have a relationship with? Are you staying in contact with old friends, those whom you don't see or speak to at least in months or even years? It's important that you're their for a friend or anyone whom you've invested your time with. Building a relationship with another is a precious thing, so remember to nurture it.

Last point; love means at times we may have to confront those we care about, regarding certain behavior. Both authority and personal concern are needed in dealing with people who are ruining their lives with sin. When we find ourselves in the position of concerned friend we must proceed with caution. As we all know that there are several wrong approaches in confronting others and these can further break relationships rather than heal them. How many times have you belted someone over the head with your interpretation of the law and scripture. We can look to build relationships by taking a favorable approach -- sharing, communicating, and caring. Now this can be a laborious path that can drain us emotionally, but it is the best way for the other person, and it is the only Christlike way to deal with others' sin. So let's become intentional in regard to all those who are in our sphere of influence. Now, let's start getting in touch with those who have made a difference in your life.

Until Next Time...

Jim