What does God say about relationships?
2 Cor 5:17-18, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;” Is our relationship with God the first one we need to establish? Matt 22:36-37, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
Jn 15:13, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” and Rom 5:8, "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Has God already done His part in establishing a great relationship with us?
1 Jn 4:7-8, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” Are the best relationships those founded on love?
Gen 2:18, “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” How important are relationships to God?
Mk 10:6-8, “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.” Is God telling us that the marriage relationship is a special one? Could the needs of the children be the reason for this special relationship? Does God want us to know the parent/child relationship to help us better understand God and our relationship with Him?
1 Pet 3:7, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” Does our relationship with our spouse affect our relationship with God, even our prayers?
Jn 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” When we show our love for one another, are we not also showing our love of God? Is the world watching to see how we love?
Eccl 4:9-10, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” When we love our friends enough to sacrifice for them, are they then not also willing to sacrifice for us?
Heb 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Does God want our relationships with other believers to be supportive and filled with good works?
Prov 13:20, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Does God want us to fellowship with those who walk with Him? Are these people the ones who choose to reason with God? Prov 12:15, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Is God not calling all of us to His wise counsel?
Matt 18:21-22, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Is God asking us to love others to the point of unlimited forgiveness for their sins against us? Is this one of the ways we show we are His children?
1 Cor 13:4-7, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Is God asking us to endure all things with an attitude of charity and love towards others?
Phil 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Are we to stay humble and not to seek glory?
Has God given us this life, filled with all kinds of people, for us to learn what good, healthy, loving relationships are all about? Is this life an audition for a part in the eternal play that is His eternal family?
Comments, opposing opinions and suggestions for future topics are all welcome at: bill@reasoningwithgod.com.
