Oldham Church of Christ

Building Godly Relationships

30 August

Great news! Our Father in Heaven is a Relational God.

"I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them."

Revelation 21:3 NLT

He created us for a relationship with Him and with one another. Deep inside, we are relational beings!

"From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us."

Acts of Apostles 17:26-27 NLT

Our Purpose on Earth (to make disciples for Christ) is only possible through relationships.

Several studies have shown that people who enjoy healthy relationships live healthier, longer lives for three major reasons:

They have people who give them joy and affirm them.
Their relationships challenge them to improve themselves and behave better.
They get help from their community that relieves them of stress.

Sin is the reason we are unable to enjoy healthy relationships with God and others.

"It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore."

Isaiah 59:2 NLT

How can we create and maintain healthy relationships among ourselves? Agape is the answer! Agape is the commitment of devotion that is directed by the Will and can be commanded as a duty. It goes beyond feeling butterflies in your belly. It is choosing to do what is right irrespective of how you feel. This type of love is rare in the world because it doesn't come naturally to us. We have to receive the capacity to show this love by first experiencing it from God. We experience this love by accepting God's offer of pardon for our sins.

Romans 5.5 says: "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God (Agape) has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." The Holy Spirit is the enabler! We receive the Holy Spirit at the point of baptism having repented of our sins (Acts 2.38). Is the Holy Spirit in you? Prove it by expressing this special type of love to everyone no matter who they are or what they've done.

In verse 8 it says God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. God loved us when it didn't feel right. He loves us still and has promised to keep loving us. We reciprocate this love by surrendering our lives to Him for transformation. Then we will receive the capacity to share this love with others as well.