September 2005

08.30.2005

ne Parson’s Opinion

As most of you know my sister, Judy, is fighting cancer. She knows the prognosis is not good. Unless the Lord intervenes, the cancer will kill her. Judy and I thank so many of you for sending cards of encouragement and for letting her know you are praying for her.

Judy has said to me several profound things and there will be more nuggets of wisdom in the days to come.

One of her pearls of wisdom was stated like this: When you have cancer it changes everything. She said your values, what is important, your relationships – all of life is viewed through different lenses. It’s true! What a shame it takes cancer to remind me again of what is truly important in life.

I preach that relationships are the most important. Relationship with the Lord and relationships with people are truly the essence of life, especially once you know Christ.

But I imagine, that just like me, you tend to forget about the people in your life. We get bogged down with organization, busyness, status and programming. What a shame!

We are made in God’s image and one of the things that means is that we are relational beings. As the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are relational within the Trinity, so we are to be relational. Therefore, it is the norm for people to yearn for relationships with others. Christianity spread as a relational religion, not as an organization. The church is primarily seen as an organism in the New Testament. It seems the church of the 21st Century focuses more on programming than people. (Whoops, I lapsed into preaching, sorry!)

Well Jim, I want to be relational, but I don’t know how. How can I? Answer:

Intentionally move toward others with the only agenda being to love and minister to that person.

Drop self-defense, control and gaining worth from the relationship. Just focus on the person. You will be amazed at how people will respond to you when you drop all agendas and love them.

I believe this is how Jesus lived. He loved people unconditionally. His love attracted people. I believe this is how the early church spread so rapidly. They had no Sunday School, Discipleship Training, or organized stewardship campaign. They simply loved people and pointed to the source of that unconditional love in them, their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I know we have to do what we do – we have to work to buy groceries. But remember there are people you work with, play with, shop at their store and live with, who thirst deeply to be touched by another.

May the Lord give us grace to major on relationships in life.

See you on the Lord’s Day,

Jim

Posted by arbc at 09:34 PM