- Relationships with our families
- Relationships with our spouses (even the "dripping, nagging" ones!)
- Relationships with our enemies
- Relationships with our leaders
- Relationships with the poor
- Relationships with strangers
- Relationships with ourselves
- Relationships with animals
- And most importantly, our relationship with the Lord
When I thought about the fact that God made us as a relational being and that the triune nature of God is itself the very essence of relationship, then it is no wonder that God in His wondrous wisdom made sure a WHOLE book of the Bible was dedicated to rules and wisdom about the relationships in our lives. The more I get to know the Lord, the more I realize that He is really brilliant and just flat out knows what He is doing! ;) And so I also know that our relationships are of the utmost importance to Him. If you consider Jesus' own ministry, everything was centered around relationships. Relationships with His family, with His disciples, with strangers, with those in authority, with those He healed, with His enemies, and most importantly, with God the Father.
When I looked up the dictionary definition of "relationships", there was one word that each of the definitions had in common. That word was "connection". That is just the point...we are all connected together is some fashion. And that is EXACTLY how God intended for it to be. That is why the two greatest commandments that Jesus gave us are to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40).
So take a look for yourself at this wise and profound book and see that every single verse has to do with one aspect of these many relationships. This goes along so well with what Jaybrena said in her post yesterday. The well-worn paths in our lives are there for one important reason...RELATIONSHIPS!!!
