Fresh Start With Godنموونە

The Bible has a lot to say about relationships and the fact that the people we choose to run with will play a major part in shaping our lives. One of my favorite verses in the Bible that shows the significance of our relationships is found in the book of Ephesians, which was written originally as a letter by the Apostle Paul to the church in the city of Ephesus. The whole book of Ephesians really focuses on the power of the body of Christ, especially local churches around the world.

“..From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16 NKJV).

Let's think about some things in this verse. First, it pretty clearly indicates that it's God's desire that we are joined, connected and knit together in different relationships. Second, every relationship brings supply into our life. This is the most important thought in this verse: What kind of supply is coming into my life through my relationships? Think about your friends and ask yourself this question: What are they supplying to my life? Be honest. Is it a good supply? You also have to think about what kind of supply is flowing from you to them. Third, this verse clearly tells us that relationships are the key source of growth and maturity in our life.

The people we're connected with greatly influence where our lives are headed. They can either speak life and help you become all that God created you to be, or they can weigh you down and hinder you from accomplishing your purpose in life. When you make a fresh start, there might be some relationships you know you need to end. This doesn't mean you have to cut yourself off from all of your friends, co-workers and family members who aren't Christians. Instead, look for opportunities to share what He's done in your life and help others come to know Him, too. Here's an important key when it comes to navigating the relationships in your life: give the right people the right voice in your life.

Stop and think about who you’re running with. Take a look around at your friends, the people who are influencing you. As Christians, our greatest responsibility and highest privilege is to please God and honor Him with our lives. Every decision, including your relationships, needs to pass the litmus test of purpose. Will this serve God's purposes in my life? Does this please God? Am I honoring God through this? Is my life moving forward into the future God has for me? If we want to become all that God wants us to be and accomplish all He has for us to do, our relationships must line up with His purpose for our lives.

Over the years, there have been times when I had to choose to keep pursuing God and His plans for my life, even though it meant losing friends who were running in another direction. There will be relationships along the way that you will have to let go of in order to be who God has called you to be and do what God has called you to do. You might even feel a little tugging right now about a friend or someone you’re involved with. You may be thinking that you’re supposed to stay connected with them because of what I talked about earlier–so that you can be the supply of God’s love to them.

We should always have a heart that is soft toward those in need of God's love and we should have a burden to reach them. However, there is a difference between being an example of God's love to your unsaved friends and holding onto relationships that are dragging you down and keeping you from growing in your walk with God. Unfortunately, I have seen people get pulled down because they stayed connected with the wrong friends. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom and direction about the relationships in your life.

Especially in the early stages of your walk with Jesus, you've got to make sure that you're surrounding yourself with strong, godly people who are helping you get established in God's Word. It will enable you to stay spiritually strong and healthy, and that is what makes us able to effectively share God's love with those around us.

Don’t isolate yourself. One of the reasons being part of a healthy, life-giving local church is so significant in a believer's life is it means we don't have to do life alone. The local church gives us a place to find godly friends and be a part of a church family. Those relationships provide strength in difficult times. They encourage us and help us be better Christians and individuals. They make life sweeter and richer. Nothing can compare to having friends who are headed in the same direction as you and share the same commitment to God.

Diversity. I think it's important to intentionally build relationships with people who are different from you. One of the things I love the most about the Body of Christ is the diversity. Think about the three ways you relate with people:

You Relate Up. The Bible is clear that we need to submit ourselves to authority. “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you” (Hebrews 13:17). It’s impossible to grow and thrive spiritually with a hard, rebellious heart toward those who are in authority over us.

You Relate Side-to-Side. These are your friends, the people who are walking with you. I'm so thankful for all of the amazing friends that God has brought into my life. They encourage me, challenge me and hold me accountable to goals and commitments I've made. It takes time and hard work to build great, healthy, life-giving friendships, but it's worth it. Make sure you do your part. Don't just receive; determine to be a giver in your relationships.

You Relate Down. I don't mean that anyone is beneath you, but there are those who are coming behind you in life and in the things of God. There will always be people ahead of you and those behind you, and one of the greatest things you can do is take responsibility to help encourage and lead others. We can tell people what has happened in our life and it will impact them. Then, as you grow in your knowledge of the Bible and the things of God, you will have the opportunity to influence and help others grow.

Serve others. I think this is one of the most important qualities of Christianity. One of my favorite examples is when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. When Jesus washed the feet of His disciples He was setting an example for them and for us - always be ready to serve and do the jobs no one else wants to do. Serving others faithfully will make a huge difference in your life.

Reflection Questions

1. How are the current relationships in your life impacting you?

2. Are there changes that you need to make in how you relate to people?

3. What are some steps you need to take to make sure you're connected into a network of godly, healthy relationships?