walking in relationship

Day Four:  Walking IN RELATIONSHIP

Pray:  Jesus, I ask that you show me something personal in my study today.  I want to hear you speak directly to me about my life and what you have for me.  I believe that you speak to those who believe in you and have a relationship with you.  So, today, I open my heart, ears and eyes to your will.  Speak to me, Lord!

I am sharing verses from several different translations in this study but, feel free to read from which ever translation you are most comfortable.  It might be useful to have a notebook handy to jot your thoughts and answer some questions listed below.

Read:  Deuteronomy 11:13 (NIV):
13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul

John 15:9-17
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Mark 12:28-31 (Amplified): 
28Then one of the scribes came up and listened to them disputing with one another, and, noticing that Jesus answered them fitly and admirably, he asked Him, Which commandment is first and most important of all [in its nature]?
29 Jesus answered, The first and principal one of all commands is: Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord;
30 And you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart and out of and with all your soul (your life) and out of and with all your mind (with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding) and out of and with all your strength. This is the first and principal commandment.
31 The second is like it and is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

Study:  There are two truths that jump out at us when reading these passages.  The first truth is that Jesus wants to be in a love relationship with us.  The second truth is that Jesus wants us to be in love relationships with each other.  Let’s explore these two truths a little further.

Truth #1:  Jesus wants to be in a love relationship with you!  Wait!  What?  The God of the universe wants to be in a love relationship with y-o-u!  Yes; it is true…it says it right here in the Bible.  Jesus is asked what is the most important principle to follow out of all that is written in the Word.  Jesus responds by saying that the most important principle to follow is to fall in love with God…completely, with all that you are.

Take a few minutes to think about this and write down your thoughts.

Truth #2:  Jesus wants us to be in love relationships!  Your relationships/friendships matter to God.  Stop and really think about this verse from John 15, ” This is my commandment:  Love each other in the same way I have loved you.  There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  Now, read it again.  He says, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for your friends.”  Your friends.  Jesus is putting an awful lot of weight on friendship.  When is the last time you have heard that Jesus wants you to have friends…that you friendships are biblical and very important to Him?  Have you ever thought, “I don’t have much of a ministry but I am a good friend” or wish you had less to do so that you could develop friends?  Could it be that God put that gift or desire inside of your heart?

Again, think and make note of your thoughts.

Apply:  What does it mean to be “in love” with someone?  It seems that Jesus defines it for us when He says to love “with your whole heart and with your whole soul (your life) and with all your strength.”  This definition is a complete and total love.  Would this mean that God loves us completely?  He loves our whole heart, our soul/life, our mind (the way we think) and our strength.  This kind of love is liberating. 

How does this change or enhance your relationship with Jesus?  Write down your thoughts.

Be vulnerable and open with Him.  Being vulnerable is vital to walking in a love relationship. 

The definition of a friend is:  a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another.

Synonyms for friend:  buddy, chum, comrade, confidant, crony, familiar, intimate.

There are typically two types of friends in our lives.  Reading over the list of synonyms shows that we have friends on different levels.  Some friendships are intimate, familiar, confidant, comrade.  These friends are usually few, but close.  Another type of friend is the buddy, chum, crony.  These friends are usually referred to as acquaintances and there may be many.  It is important to recognize and appreciate the different types of friendships.  Regardless of the type of friendship you share with others, it is clear that we are to love them.  Jesus said, “Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”

Do you have both types of friendships active in your life?  Is one type of friendship easier for you than another.  If so, challenge yourself to build and maintain both types of friendships.  Pray and ask God for friends or how to grow the friends you have.

If God puts so much importance on friendship, shouldn’t we?  Do you value your friendships?

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  What does this mean to you?  How can you do this in your friendships right now?

Think about these questions and your current relationships.  Jot down your thoughts and goals for your friendships.

Be encouraged to find a Godly, trustworthy mature friend or two that you feel safe with and open yourself up to them.  Be vulnerable with them and share your heart and your life.  Allow them to do the same with you.  If you have this friendship in your life, be sure to let them know how much you value them.