“We love Him because he first loved us.” (1John 4:19 KJV).
READ: Hebrews 8:1-13, 1John 4: 13-21, John 13: 18-38
God has a very simple pattern for our relationships. First we relate to Him, then to others and we ourselves come last. I have come to realize that God’s love for us is what causes our hearts to respond in love to Him. Our love for Him is thus the response of His love for us. It is not something manufactured or contracted. His agape love produces agape love in us. Having been filled with God’s love, we are then to give ourselves to others with an energy that longs to see the same confidence we have in God, grow and develop them. It is clear that God places a high value on relationships.
Cynddylan Jones said “the best way in which we, the people of God, can reflect the nature of God here on earth is in the way we relate.” A good relationship exists when we are using our resources for the wellbeing of others. God created us, and then recreated us to relate well to Him and reflect His character by giving ourselves unselfishly to one another. God is a relational being; check out Genesis 1:20-31, we learn from the trinity that relationship is the essence of reality, and therefore the essence of our existence. The biblical view of the trinity presents the truth of one God in three persons- Father, Son and Holy Spirit- who exist in mutual love and understanding.
The Son of God came to restore humanity to a harmonious relationship. Jesus gave the greatest commandments in Matthew 22:36-39 which implies loving relationships, love of God and love of others which is what life is all about. Nothing is more important. Our value as men and women comes from the fact that God lives in us and loves us and we have something useful to give to others. Remember we are not mechanical beings- we are personal beings made in God’s image.
Prayer:
Oh God my Father help me to learn to value relationships, as You are a relational God. Help me to live like You, putting others ahead.
PHI Devotional - Celebrating God's Faithfulness 