Relationship Status Update

Well I don’t know about you but on more than one occasion I have gotten on Facebook and seen a friend or acquaintance’s relationship status updated. Often this causes some excitement and drama: some positive, some not. But there is only one relationship status that really matters and it is not on Facebook, it is your relationship with God. 

God created us in his image. But sin entered the picture in the garden and in that moment a gulf between man and God opened up, and it could not be breached until Jesus. God designed a plan that included a permanent way to bring us back into relationship with Him. 

John 3:16-18 in the Message says: “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him." 

So our Relationship Status depends on what we do with what God already gave. 

Do we deny it, say it is a fairy tale, a fantasy, and only weak minded people really need to “believe” in God? Do we say that going to church is enough, that we have enough pressure in our lives that we don’t need to change our behavior to fit in with the goodie-goodies of this world? Do we say, well, my parents were church goers and they baptized me as a baby, so I am okay? 

No. We must turn our heart toward God. We must acknowledge Him, and the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf, and this is the beginning of a relationship. This is the introduction: now comes the love. 

I John 4:7-10 says, “My beloved friends: let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God."

So, as Valentine’s Day approaches and the world is focused on their version of love, remember this: greater love is laying down our lives for one another. Then we are called God’s friend. God made the way; you need to make the effort. Change your relationship status to “involved” with God. Become wrapped in His goodness, his mercy, his love and LOVE HIM and his people back! That is what real love is. 

Be blessed and be a blessing and remember that love is a verb!