How to maintain lasting, stable relationship?...

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Comment by Pastor Bob B on October 26, 2009 at 6:23am

WHEN I WAS A CHILD
"Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:1-4)

Paul was saying in these verses that our relationship with other Christians is so important. That is being others centered and not self centered. This is our state when we are born into the world. When we are babies life is all about us, what we need, what we want, and if we do not get it everyone hears about it around us. Everything is about what makes me feel good.

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I no longer used childish ways.” (1Corinthians 13:11)

Something happens to a healthy person as they grow up, they realize they are not the center of the universe and that everything does not revolve around them. Philippians 2:1-4 is a description of a maturing Christian.

There is nothing worse to deal with than some one who has refused to grow up. It is still all about what they want and when they don't get there way everyone knows about it.

As Christians we should be growing up in God, maturing in our relationships with other, and putting away childish ways of interacting with each other. I hate it when I see myself at times still acting like a child in my relationships with others.

PRAYER
Father God we are so immature some times in how we interact with others. We still want to make it all about ourselves. So Father help us to grow up in our relationships with others and in how we relate to you. In Jesus name amen.

Comment by Richard Supit on October 26, 2009 at 1:34am

Amen ..... I totally agree with You God Bless You

Comment by April Lipinski on October 26, 2009 at 1:16am

This is so beautiful and true. I am learning this right now, and trying to encourage other friends that are struggling in their "singleness." But this is what I am hoping to share someday with a christian man. Right now, I just want to grow, and by His grace and instruction, become Christ-centered. He is a good God...and tonight, I can say something, that I've had a hard time saying, because of my own confusion and sin, tonight I can say, "I think it's not going to be long before He comes back, and I long to see my beautiful beautiful wonderful Savior, my Father, my Friend, the most dear one, the most High God, Jesus Christ!"

Comment by Masaaki.T on October 26, 2009 at 1:16am

Paul has really been worried about Corinthians through 2 Corinthians12-13. He really loved them no matter how they criticize and despise him even if he worked much for them and he went far even to say"If I love you more, will you love me less?".He also deeply concerned about his brothers, those of his own race. Romans9:3 says"For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race,". 2 Corinthians11:28 says"Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches." He personally also loved Timothy,Titus,Philemon,and so on. He was always thinking of others and really bothered and worried about. At the same time, he was really happy with being Christ.Phillipians3:7-9 says" But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. " The more we know Jesus and spend time with Him, the more we are concernd and worried about others as Paul was. I really want to love people,even if they despise me.I really want to have as much love as Paul did when he said"If I love you more, will you love me less?" As long as I put a wall against people, I never get hurt from them, but it is not love at all.If I love others, I can't help wanting love from them. When I can't get it while I love them and want it, I really might get hurt. Actually, the case is so often and the case I can get love them who I love is so rare. So I am afraid to love others. But I really want to love, sacrificing myself. "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."John13:34 God bless you and your devoted husband,Elmo. I am sorry that you are sick, but He even use the sick so that your husband is so closed to you and he is more important to you and you love him more than ever. Relationship between you and your husband get stronger than before you get sick. And Thank you for your blog. Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ can love each other forever!

Comment by kathleen aldea on October 25, 2009 at 9:19pm

I thank God for giving Elmo into my life....now that i'm sick... he always stay at my side... taking care of me...so bless to have him... keep praying for me... im not feeling well this past few days but then... thru God's grace and mercy...' can still keep in touch to all of my brothers and sisters in Christ... i love you all... God bless you..