Inter-personal part 1
I think I talk about relationship a lot. Probably because I think it's important. Because we are all in this together. Because we need each other. We are all connected. And because of this connection, it is important that we spend our three T's (time, talent, treasure) on what really matters--each other. And, as always, it begins and ends with Jesus. He is the Alpha and the Omega. Look at our key verse for this Rant series, 2 Corinthians 5:18 in the Mesage Bible, "All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other." Everything flows down from the Father of lights. Everything. Our relationship with each other is directly dependent upon our relationship with God. And did you catch the important part there? HE has settled the relationship between us and Him. We couldn't, so He did. Jesus did all of the heavy lifting. He finished the work. He did what needed to be done to put us where we need to be. And, for the record, where we are is shown in Hebrews 12:2, "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." And, if you're asking "that verse is talking about Jesus, isn't it?" Well, of course it is. Which means it is also talking about us. Jesus is our true identity. He is the truth... about the Father... and about us. Jesus is God in the flesh, love in a body. God in OUR flesh, love in OUR body. As He is, so are we in this world. He lives in us and we live in Him. So where He is... so are we. He is seated at the right hand of the Father. WE are seated at the right hand of the Father. When God looks at Jesus He sees us, and when God looks at us He sees Jesus. There is no difference or separation. That's so important. So key. We have to understand that our relationship with God has been settled. Because HE settled it. The cross settled it. On the cross we were conformed to the image of Jesus. The only begotten Son of God. A Father's love to His Son. That is our relationship with God. And because that relationship is settled... we can let our relationship with each other flow. It takes hard work, don't get me wrong. But it's worth the effort. And--one more time--Jesus finished the work. What He accomplished is what equips and empowers us to enjoy this abundant, everlasting, eternal, Resurrection Life of love that He has already given us. And that's how we have those inter-personal relationships with each other. We love each other. First and foremost. First, last, and always. And then we let that love work everything else out. Listen, you don't have to agree with everything somebody else says or does. You don't have to agree with anything they say or do, to be perfectly frank and honest. And you can still get along with them. You can still fellowship with them. You can still love them. You don't have to change people. You don't have to convince them of anything. You can simply let them be who they are and love them no matter what. Because that's how God loves you. Receive it... and release it!