Relationships Matter
God makes it very clear in His Word from the beginning to the end that relationships matter to Him and to us. He created all humans in His image. God is love, and love finds its expression in relationships. God told Adam and us that it is not good for man or woman to be alone.(Genesis 2:18) That was His purpose in making men and women. We correspond to each other perfectly, so that we can have the closest possible human relationship with our spouse. Our lives are all bound up in our relationships. Relationships bring us joy or sorrow.
At NHBC we are going to focus on relationships beginning in 2014. Whether you call it a vision statement, a purpose statement, or a mission statement, we are going to emphasize :Relationships Matter: Growing Relationships for Your Good and His Glory. Let's face the facts, we must have a vision for relationships or our focus will be on material things and pleasure. Our purpose must be to grow in our relationships, or our lives will be empty. Our mission must be to grow relationships, because shallow relationships do not accomplish God's will. Therefore, plant it in your heart and mind: RELATIONSHIPS MATTER.
Adam had a close relationship with God from his creation, but it was broken by sin, and it had to be rebuilt. He actually hid Himself from the one who loved Him the most. Have you ever done that out of guilt? God said that human relationships were very important, so He had woman to compliment man in every way. However, the relationship with the woman led Adam in the wrong direction, because he failed to obey God, whether to please her or just out of disobedience. They had their eyes open to see good and evil, but their sin made them stupid. Think about the itching of those fig leaves. Their relationships were changed by the sin, but God stepped in to bring forgiveness and healing when He made the clothes from an animal that had to die, so the blood could atone for their sin. If they would have followed God's plan, they would have been fine, but the more they sinned the more it damaged their relationship with God, with their family, and with others. Watch for it as we read through the Bible together this year.
My prayer for each of us in 2014 is that we will have true joy. The only way that is going to happen is for us to constantly remember "Relationships Matter." Grow your relationship with God, with family, and with others this year. It will change your life dramatically for your good and His glory.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 4-6.
At NHBC we are going to focus on relationships beginning in 2014. Whether you call it a vision statement, a purpose statement, or a mission statement, we are going to emphasize :Relationships Matter: Growing Relationships for Your Good and His Glory. Let's face the facts, we must have a vision for relationships or our focus will be on material things and pleasure. Our purpose must be to grow in our relationships, or our lives will be empty. Our mission must be to grow relationships, because shallow relationships do not accomplish God's will. Therefore, plant it in your heart and mind: RELATIONSHIPS MATTER.
Adam had a close relationship with God from his creation, but it was broken by sin, and it had to be rebuilt. He actually hid Himself from the one who loved Him the most. Have you ever done that out of guilt? God said that human relationships were very important, so He had woman to compliment man in every way. However, the relationship with the woman led Adam in the wrong direction, because he failed to obey God, whether to please her or just out of disobedience. They had their eyes open to see good and evil, but their sin made them stupid. Think about the itching of those fig leaves. Their relationships were changed by the sin, but God stepped in to bring forgiveness and healing when He made the clothes from an animal that had to die, so the blood could atone for their sin. If they would have followed God's plan, they would have been fine, but the more they sinned the more it damaged their relationship with God, with their family, and with others. Watch for it as we read through the Bible together this year.
My prayer for each of us in 2014 is that we will have true joy. The only way that is going to happen is for us to constantly remember "Relationships Matter." Grow your relationship with God, with family, and with others this year. It will change your life dramatically for your good and His glory.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 4-6.