One-the art of relationship

We've got to unite ourselves as one body. Because Jesus is coming back, and he's coming back for a bride, not a harem.
-a gospel preacher as quoted by Shane Claiborne in The Irresistible Revolution

John Chapter 17

Jesus Prays for All Believers
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

John Chapter 13

34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Its all about love. Everything in life is about relationships. Your relationship to God and your relationship to others. God chooses to use our love as the testimony to call the world to faith.

Love is hard. We can be the unlovable and yet we often love ourselves so much that we don't have love leftover to share.

Healthy relationships require trust. Trust is a product of time. Trusting others and having others who trust us. Who can be trusted? When we have seen so much abuse of trust, it seems impossible to know who is trustworthy. We have all been betrayed in trust, because we all let each other down. We must forgive immediately, but it is godly to allow time to regrow trust.We all long for someone we can trust, bare our soul and be known. We long to be trusted, it is a great compliment and responsibility. We have a God-placed longing to be trustworthy, because where love prevails trust grows. To create helathy relationships our part is to be someone who can be trusted.

Healthy relationships require respect. Respect has to be earned. Can you see yourself on the same trajectory, and do you value and respect the choices and direction that person chooses?

Healthy relationships require empathy. We must pay attention to the effect we have on others. Spiritual maturity is not just about doctrine and knowledge, it is about empathy. This is a byproduct of intimacy with God, when you connect with God you begin to care deeply about people. Jesus in us teaches us how to love and makes us aware of how our lives effect other people. A person who lacks empathy is someone whose emotions are completely focused on their own experience. Heal relationships by giving yourself away to others.

This is love, more than an nice word, it is demonstrated by these characteristics and so many more. Love is miraculous. It is the proof of God.

Let's learn to live out love, in community and all the world will know.