There is Nothing NEW here, just DO IT!

 

My Favorite Scriptures Day #25

I am not sure where I learned this. Maybe it just came through experience. Maybe I learned it because I failed so much when I was younger. Maybe it came to me through divine providence. 

THE KEY TO LIFE IS RELATIONSHIPS!

I know, it is not really all that profound, but the depth of this truth are amazing. AND the depth of our violation of this also runs deep. Certainly as a pastor, you have to have great relationships with your congregation. As much as it is within your grasp you must nurture relationships between you and your wife/husband, your family,  your leaders, your co-workers, your fellow students, your teammates, your community, the lost, and primarily you need to nurture your relationship with the LORD of the Universe. 

That was Paul's advice to the Church at Thessalonika. 

"Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all the people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, NLT)

There is so much wisdom in these verses, that is why this passage is amongst my favorites. Treat your leaders well, live peacefully with each other. Be active in your faith, not lazy. Encourage each other, build each other up, and be patient with each other's faults. Have fun, laugh, and pray. Look for good things to do. Promote people connecting with the power of the Holy Spirit and to listen to the Lord. These things are all about building up the FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS in a world that is HOSTILE to followers of JESUS.

Life is all about relationships. We can never minimize the value of building connections with people and God. Isn't that the essence of the two greatest commandments?

"Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all you soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ' Love your neighbor as yourself.' The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40, NLT)

And if I can be so bold, those two commandments to LOVE GOD and to LOVE PEOPLE are all about building RELATIONSHIPS. 

We need to use all means necessary to build relationships, love people, and demonstrate the genuine LOVE of JESUS to others. The MEAN social media posts, the crass words, the hate, should NEVER be a part of the lives of a BELIEVER in JESUS. AMEN?

THERE IS NOTHING NEW HERE, JUST DO IT!