What are Relationships?
Relationships are the way in which two or more objects, concepts, or people connect. They come in all sizes, shapes, and colors.
They can be acquaintances we see occasionally that come and go in each season, or they can last a lifetime. Some, we are born into while others we choose.
Relationships can form between neighbors, coworkers, strangers, the unseen world, and even pets. They can be healthy and delightful, or they can be toxic and life-threatening.
Because we live in a physical world we can see and touch, it’s easy to make these earthly relationships more important than our relationship with God. The physical world becomes our reality, and the spiritual world gets forgotten.
It’s in the spiritual world that we connect with God. So, naturally, we should build an awareness of it.
How Do We Build Awareness?
Read the Bible! God gave us a road map to building healthy, strong, stable relationships. The Bible is full of relationships. God’s Word gives sound advice on how to treat:
- One another, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:19).
- Marriage union, “Love your wife as God loved the church” (Ephesians 5:25).
- Other believers, “Even if we believe that it makes no difference to the Lord whether we do these things, still we cannot just go ahead and do them to please ourselves; for we must bear the ‘burden’ of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others—of those who feel these things are wrong. Let’s please the other fellow, not ourselves, and do what is for his good and thus build him up in the Lord” (Romans 15:2 TLB).
- The lost, “Just so, it is not my Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish” (Matthew 18:14 ESV). Our only task asked of us is to share God’s message with all who will listen!
The more Scripture we read, the closer our walk with God will become. The spiritual world will no longer be forgotten, and we will open other’s eyes to new possibilities.
How do we do this?
By building relationships!
I’ve never been good at relationships. I’ve had a few good friends in my life but only because they took the time to get to know me. I’ve been wounded a time or two, so the protective walls remained.
It was not until I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior that I could come outside of those walls and embark in a new adventure called relationship.
Many Hats
Like most people, I wear many hats and therefore, have many relationships: wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, in-law, cousin, friend, co-worker, acquaintance, ASL teacher, Cricut crafter, kayaker, animal lover, Jesus lover. Just to name a few.
When I wear any of these hats and bump into others, I make connections and build relationships. With Jesus in my heart and the Holy Spirit as my guide, I’m no longer afraid of Vulnerability. The four of us navigate this life together putting Jesus on display for all to see.
My physical world and my spiritual world collide when I keep Jesus in my sight lines and establish a relationship with others.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In