God Created Us for Relationships

“For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after he is killed, he shall rise the third day” (Mark 9:31).

Why did the Lord Jesus have to teach His disciples about His death and resurrection when it should have been plain to see? One reason was that the nation of Israel was in denial and ignorance because they had not been taught the pure Word of God. Past generations were in the dark concerning God’s remedy for sin and its dominion. They did not take time to hear.

Sin will blind and deafen a soul to the voice of God. In Daniel’s day the LORD revealed by books and scripture the plan and purpose of God to Daniel. Daniel realized the people had sinned, and brought reproach unto their own head, which degenerated the minds of the people toward their promise. God’s chosen people did not hearken to the servants, the prophets, who spoke God’s name to the Kings, princes, and the fathers, and to the people of the land (Daniel 9:6).

Do you want to know how to know God? Get alone with God and allow Him to instruct you. Read His word, pray unto Him in prayer, in secret private prayer. It’s been said that the pious, religious hypocrite needs an audience to pray because he prays to be heard. To impress. But, friend, if you and I really desire God’s voice then we need to take time to hear and to be heard by God above. There in the secret place He will instruct in righteousness which yields fruit everlasting.

“How happy is the man who has put his trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:4).

If you have not met Satan face to face, it’s because you are running in the same direction. So many of us are asking for trouble, so why are we not happy when we get it? We are so smart about so many matters, we might have a smart head, but our brains run ahead of good sense.

Tragically, there are literally millions of people who know the NAME of Jesus Christ, but who know nothing of the LOVE and SAVING GRACE of Christ as Lord and Savior. Many people think of Christ as the Savior who takes instead of the Lord who Gave His life to give us our lives.

The Lord Jesus came to earth prepared to FORGIVE us for our sins and mistakes, asking only that we TRUST Him, BELIEVE into Him, and ASK for that forgiveness. Then He not only forgives, He FORGETS.

That’s the Jesus we should love. Can’t you sing? Surely we got a song in the heart! That song is a gift from God. We don’t earn it for He gave it. We get to sing THAT song to a world that is living in minor key. Use that song or it will be gone. Lots of people out there who need to hear the SONG of God. Happiness in the Lord overflows when we place our trust in the Lord.

“Woe be unto the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 23:1).

You remember the story of Little Red Robin Hood? She was speaking to the wolf who tried to disguise himself with her grandmother’s cap. Red Robin Hood kept mentioning body parts of the wolf until finally she said, “What big teeth you have.” Of course the reply came back from the wolf, “All the better to eat you with, my dear.”

There are a lot of shepherds out there who rather eat the sheep instead of feed and teach the sheep. The True Shepherd will come one day and sue for malpractice. God’s people are to be teachers and learners at the same time. Many are hirelings who flee at the intrusion of anything. The wolves in disguise cover themselves in religious overtures but reveal themselves for what they are in the day of trouble.

May we remember that God will set up in His kingdom teachers who will lead and not drive, visit and not be self-serving, and learners instead of just talkers. One of the reasons for the mess that many local churches are in is because of many who talk Bible but who do not incarnate the Word of God.

True Shepherds will feed the sheep so that they will not fear, nor be dismayed, neither lacking in their lives. Yes, Red Robin Hood saw correctly, but she was slow to see before it was too late.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” (Phil. 2:5a).

Think of how the Lord Jesus let go of all–status, position, respect. He
gave up his rights to be respected, waited on, and adored.

Jesus walked and lived in “Glory Town.” He gave up the praise of angels, who
prostrated themselves and covered their faces with their wings when he
walked by, and they sang harmoniously that reached the furtherest star when
they found him near. Jesus humbled himself and became small for us.

Dress yourself in modesty. Fall off the pedestal others and maybe you have
placed yourself upon. There are a lot more important things to think of than
to think of yourself subconsciously.

Look at others. Look at the poverty around you–not just financial poverty,
but also marital poverty–broken families and families abused. Dress for
success by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ. Even next to you in church
there are hurts and pains. Do you see them?

“And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius, the king” (Ezra 6:15).

Remember that God is in control. When the words and actions of world leaders disturb you, remember that God is on His throne and has all things under control.

Israel had rejected God’s warnings of judgment, but the prophet’s word came through. Jeremiah warned, cried, and the people ignored and rejected God’s warning to their own well being. The temples was torn down and the people of God were exiled in a land of idols.

Yet, God still restored His people to the land as promised. He used a pagan ruler by the name of Cyrus to fulfill prophecy. The temple was rebuilt and great joy was found in the midst. Over seventy years in captivity, tears that soaked the clothing and the ground, God made a way for His people to get back into the land of His choosing.

The trip was difficult for the Jews, life in the land was demanding; however, the courageous Jews paid the price to do God’s will. No matter how you and I may have failed in the past, God gives us the opportunity for a new beginning. God is still at work!

“And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it, that the love with which thou has loved me may be in them, and I in them”
(John 17:26).

People are looking for truth. They’re looking for reality. Deal with people in truth, and you will deal with reality.

Speaking the truth isn’t even enough, though. Truth must be spoken in love.

Many people think they are doing right by being very outspoken. Then, they put a veneer of respectability on what they say by commenting, “Well, I believe in telling the truth. You will always know what I think.” That is wrong, as well; for the child of God endeavors to balance that which “God says and what He says and how He says it”, in love.

God’s people are to much like a see-saw. Unbalanced, too top-heavy, no real leverage, prideful, and liking it with a sneer. If the peace of God does not rule, He is not ruling in that person’s heart. God balances the see-saw with a fulcrum of truth and love.

Truth balanced with love is Jesus on the cross praying, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:33). “Forgive them” is love; “for they know not what they do” is truth. Mercy and peace kiss at the cross.