Relationships

Exerpt from my book, Living Unleashed.
Acts 2:42-47

Relationships. To be a Jesus-follower, relationships become central. Love is the defining characteristic. How we respond to the needs of others around us is the standard by which we will be judged.

The first Jesus-followers undertood the importance of relationships. The description of the fellowship of the early believers is intimate and compassionate. There were together and cared for one another’s needs. They put others first. In this context, it says they “enjoy[ed] the favor of all the people and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

The importance of our relationships as Jesus-followers extends from the community we build with other believers to how we care for the interpersonal relationships in our lives. It does not matter whether we are talking about our family, our friends, our coworkers, our neighbors, or our enemies. The response is the same to all–love.

Jesus tells us that the way the world will know that we are his is by our passionate love. Our interactions with our spouse or children will reflect the heart of God. Our attitudes and words towards our work will reflect the passion of God. The time we take for neighbors and strangers alike will show the passion that has been placed in us by God. Our relationships make all the difference in the world as we strive to change the world for Jesus.
What do your closest relationships reflect about your love for God? Do you look upon others with the same servant passion that led Jesus to give up his life for you? Are you actively pursuing relationships with other Jesus-followers to build the type of community described in Acts 2?

Filed Under: PRISM Principle