Are you having a relationship?

Scriptural Readings:

Psalms 8:4, 144:3, Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10, Romans 6:6,11,22

Psalm 8:4

King James Version

v.4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visits him?

New Living Translation

v.4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

human beings that you should care for them?

Psalm 144:3

King James Version

v.3 LORD, what [is] man, that thou takest knowledge of him! [or] the son of man, that thou makest account of him!

New Living Translation

V.3 O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them?

Relationship. Have we perfected or moved closer to what this word means? Several people may say yes, calling it a glitch, but we still consider divorce a solution. Correct? Is it right to assume that despite our advances, divorce remains the only solution to a relationship that has ended wrong? We, as parents, are sometimes guilty of neglecting our children, causing them to resort to violence to get our attention. It is unmistakable in any way we see it.

It is inevitable to stay away from relationships. Relationships are an integral part of life. We are associated with one, even if we insist on not having one. Our conscience will affirm ‌this for us. Our relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and strangers help shape our identities and define who we are. We rely on these relationships to survive and thrive in life. Relationships are likened to oxygen; they are essential for life, but often we take them for granted. They help us grow and reach our full potential. Without them, life is incomplete. It is an integral part of our nature. The human body, including living things, must undergo a procedure to survive a relationship. If the method deteriorates, it will collapse.

Relationships need significant effort and commitment to be maintained and cultivated. If they are not taken care of, they can decline and fail, only to fall into disconnection, isolation, and loneliness. If the relationship falls apart, it will cease to exist. God knows what an unmistakable relationship is, which includes separations as well. The course of our lives depends on the relationships we have. Yet, we insist we have the answer to all of our problems, including divorce and abortion, and claim to be experts in handling human relationships.

Our God values relationships. Are there more particular reasons for having a plan of salvation if God never designed and scheduled a divine connection with us? So, our timetable of salvation is a divinely appointed and deeply valued lifeline. This plan of salvation allows us to connect with God personally. We understand his love for us in a way we cannot do without it. It helps us to understand that God cares greatly about our individual lives and wants us to have a deep relationship with him. It helps us live our lives aligned with God's will.

Ephesians 4:24

King James Version

v.24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

New Living Translation

v.24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Colossians 3:10

King James Version

v.10 And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

New Living Translation

v.10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.

We view life as complicated because of the never-ending uncertainties. Facts abound in reality, and even confusing truths are precise. The volume of information we hold makes it challenging to make sense of it. Realities differ in how they apply to the condition. Even when the facts are plain and obvious, we can have anxiety about understanding the deeper meaning behind them suggested to us. Disagreements about its certainty may arise at other times. Our emotions raise issues that challenge our intellect. On top of what we have learned, we discuss something else. It changes our perceptions. Sometimes it relieves us of our anxieties or otherwise aggravates them. There must be an approach to making conditions less unbearable. We need guarantees to ‌free our minds and make what we believe unquestionable.

One of the main reasons we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, aside from salvation, is that He wants us to own His likeness. Are you willing to agree? If yes, why? Suppose we achieve what we desire by having His likeness? We are complete in our fallen state; if we have His likeness, are we not? What happens next?

A divine relationship ‌with our God is essential for accomplishing His perfect will, completing the course of the relationship, and giving Him back glory, honor, and praise. Thus, He wants us to put on a brand-new man, who is both fresh and most suitable for us since we were spiritually dead but old to God, in one sense.

God's Spirit and ours.

Remember when God breathed His Spirit into us? After we became alive, our spirits died because of our original sin. By choosing to sin, we never listen to His will. We cannot connect with God because we are spiritually dead. Most of the time, we ignore the convictions of the Holy Spirit. We then continue to engage in pornography, have extramarital relationships, and so on.

What happened to the Spirit of God? The Spirit of God did not leave us. God's Spirit is still with us and continues to call us to Him. He desires to bring us back to life and restore our relationship with Him. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are born again, and our spirits are restored. We are given the power to listen to God's will and to make choices that bring us closer to Him.

Two Greek words will help us better understand our relationship with God when translated into English. The Greek word Neos (neh'-os) is a primary word meaning brand-new in English. The second word means freshness (kahee-no). When we look deeper at what it says to us, it gives us spiritual awareness. God renews our life and its freshness every day, but we never practice it. This is to remind us to take advantage of the gifts God has given us and not let them be put to waste. To further emphasize the importance of not letting God's gifts be put to waste, we should take action and make the most of each day. By doing so, we can build a stronger, more meaningful relationship with Him. We can use this knowledge to live out our faith, drawing on God's grace to create a life of purpose, renewal, and newness. Making the most of each day, living it to the fullest, and taking joy in the newness and freshness that comes with it.

Romans 6:6

King James Version

v.6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

New Living Translation

v.6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin

God said we must be dead to our sinful nature.

How will we consider the old man, who contains our sinful nature and fallen nature? To die to our former ways, we must rely on God's strength and wisdom to overcome our carnal desires and temptations. The old man will be replaced by the new man, who is born of the Spirit, filled with righteousness, grace, and love. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we are born again, and our spirits are restored.

This brand-new man reflects God's character as loving, kind, and just. Reflecting on these characteristics, we affirm our commitment and, of course, our faith in His Word. It is how we can live a life of obedience, honoring Him and glorifying His name. We see this in action when we look at Jesus, the most exemplary example of a man who embodied God's love, kindness, and justice. Demonstrated to us how to live a life of obedience and faith, and we can use that example to be more like Him.

Romans 6:11

King James Version

v.11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

New Living Translation

v.11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

When we respond to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we are drawn into a closer relationship with God and experience the abundant life He offers us. As a result, our lives are transformed and holy, and we reflect God's love and grace. The truth of this issue will never be disputable. Therefore, our Father wants us to become reborn men. We were given the ability to surrender our lives to God and follow His will when we were born again. This will enable us to experience His love, grace, abundant life, and eternal life as well.

God's relationship with us is the defining moment of happiness that no human emotion can capture, let alone describe. It means living an eternal life of pure, unfailing happiness. His love for us is unfailing and unconditional, and this unfailing love gives us the meaning of true happiness. Despite all the uncertainties, we always have hope. He gives us love and security despite our countless anxieties.