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Saving Marriage ZZ

How God Works

‘This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. ‘ John 15:12-15(NLT)

‘This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. ‘ 2 Corinthians 5:17-18(NLT)

‘Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”’ Ephesians 6:1-3(NLT)

‘Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. ‘ Ephesians 4:2-3(NLT)

‘Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” ‘ Genesis 2:18(NLT)

‘Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. ‘ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10(NLT)

You know how squinting can help you see the most prominent lines and patterns in an object? Or for some of us, it’s the only way we read these tiny letters! 

Squint your eyes and try your best look at all of history for a second. One pattern becomes rather apparent: God works through people. Look a little longer and you’ll begin to see a collection of prominent lines that connect all people, a word: relationships. 

Think about it. How did God offer salvation to every living being? By sending us His closest relationship (His Son) as a person. How do we accept Him? By entering into a trusting relationship with Him.

Take another squinting look at the brokenness in your life, in culture, in your community, in your family. What’s broken at the core? What suffers most? Probably relationships. 

Relationships are often the recipients and the ingredients of God’s wonder-working power. 

For the next several days, let’s start looking for healing in our relationships, because when what sucks the life out of you becomes what breathes new life into you, then you’re tapping into God’s wonder-working power!

You can stop squinting. Relax those eyebrows. Take a restful breath, and prepare yourself to receive God’s good truth for your life. 

Pray: God, I’m inviting You to heal the broken relationships in my life. Show me where I’ve allowed others to mistreat me, and show me where I’ve mistreated others. Amen. 

from Relational Vampires