What are you doing with the relationships you are building?
Are you helping others to grow their relationship with the Lord? Are you holding them back? Are you a stumbling block? Are you oblivious to the effect you are having on others?
From time to time it is good to take into account the kind of relationships you are building. Are you a giver or a taker? Are you a helper or a hindrance? Do you serve or want to be served?
Most importantly, what role does God have in each of your relationships? What do the activities you do with your friends say about your relationship to them and to God?
Years ago I rarely mentioned Jesus or the church to folks I associated with on a daily basis. I was not comfortable doing that.
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Luke 9:23-26
When I first heard the last part of that passage, I became uncomfortable. What was my excuse? I cannot help but wonder how many missed opportunities I had. Was I ashamed of Jesus or simply not prepared to share?
But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1 Peter 3:14-16
There went whatever excuse I may have had for not sharing.
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.
Hebrews 10:24-25
Exhort means encourage. We are to exhort our Christian brothers and sisters. With that passage went whatever excuse I had for not encouraging my brothers and sisters in Christ.
WOW. What had I been doing in my relationships? Let’s just say that I was not doing what I should have been doing.
LIFE APPLICATION
Key Focal Verse:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 1:7
Today’s challenge is simply to take a serious look at your relationships. How are you building them? Are you encouraging your brothers and sisters in Christ? Or, have you fallen into another pattern?