Authentic Christianity – the real thing – is not only a PERSONAL relationship with the Lord, it is also a RELATIONAL thing with others! Community counts! That’s one of the reasons that Jesus warned in the “Sermon on the Mount”, “If you forgive others their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses!” (Matthew 6:14-15). Apostle John reinforced this by saying, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (1 John 4:20-21)
Thought about that as I read the following passage from Ephesians this morning during “Coffee with the Lord”…
“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:25–32 ESV)
Look at the relational stuff in that passage! Lying is a relational sin! Anger with another person can give the Devil a foothold in your life! Stealing is a relational sin! A positive work ethic and a generous spirit go together! Our mouths should produce uplifting, grace-giving stuff to others (and if they don’t God’s Spirit that seals us for “the day of redemption” can be grieved)! And finally, I need to watch my attitude to others and get rid of anything and everything that is damaging to positive, Christ-honoring relationships! Instead, kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness need to flow like a river and be just as graciously extended to others as the abundant grace that I received from the Lord.”
Tall order, I know! But I want to live that way! My Christianity must be more than personal … It involves my relationship to YOU! I never want to forget that!!
Coffee With The Lord 