Our triune God is mighty. It can be challenging to wrap our heads around this idea of the Godhead, that God is 3 in 1. Each Person of the Godhead has His own unique role and is in relationship with the Other, and this week I aim to show how God the Son and our relationship with Him mirrors our relationship with our fellow man.

Our relationship with people mirrors our relationship to Jesus and how we view Him. For those who have rocky relationships with people, it’s often due to the fact that they don’t have a solid relationship with God the Son- and that they don’t understand Him. To have a relationship with Jesus, God the Son, we must understand that He is love, and on earth He had an extraordinary love and selflessness towards people that is rooted in unity. This is the same unity he prayed for in John 17 right before He was to be killed.

To be a true follower of Jesus we must understand and accept that we are not solo, but a pat of a community of other like-minded people who we call family. Heaven will be crowded with God’s children. So on earth, we the church are interwoven into a relationship with fellow brothers and sisters, a network of relationships- we are not isolationists.

Jesus + Relationship + Fellow Believers

Jesus is love and is pro unity. He prayed for our church unity in John 17th. How we view Him will organically show in how we see and treat people. If we are truly followers of Jesus we will strive to live in relationship with people, loving all kinds of personalities and characters in the church. It’s not always easy, but with Jesus at the helm it is possible.

In the Gospels, Jesus gives us a map on how we are to be in relation with our church family and with non-believers.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged: and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” Matthew 7: 1-2

Jesus knew that the church is full of imperfect people trying to follow Him as best they can. So with our flaws, He is telling us to not judge our fellow believers. Please note He is speaking to believers here in Matthew 7. He is urging believers to not exercise the spirit of condemnation and criticism who easily write people off. Anyone who does this is sinning and trying to do God’s job of judging. If we judge others we will be judged by the same measure (Matthew 7:2).

Jesus + Relationship + Non- Believers

If we look down at Matthew 7:6 Jesus gives us another map on how to deal with non-believers: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” Some non-believers will turn (aka trample) on you if you try and share the Gospel (aka pearls).

Pastor Steve Kramer gives a good exegesis on what Jesus is saying here in terms of Him, relationship, and non-believers:

Dogs and pigs back in those days were looked upon with a negative attitude. They were wild, unclean scavengers in the streets known to attack people. They could never appreciate something holy like a Bible or valuable like pearls. It would be insane to even attempt to throw something like that in their direction. They are only interested in what they can eat. Try dumping a load of inedibles upon them. It means nothing to them; they’ll just trample them into the ground. They might wind up even attacking you because at least you’re edible. Jesus says that anyone with sense would never think of doing that.

We are to love non-believers and share the Gospel with them. But, if they refuse it don’t try and throw more pearls upon them. Back off, pray for them and maybe they’ll eventually come to Jesus. If not, that’s their fate before God. But be wise with throwing pearls.

In conclusion, Jesus is love and He is relationship. If we are truly following Him then we will understand that no matter what, whether with our church family or non-believers we are meant to be in relationship with people. Jesus sets a high standard, one that can be challenging but one that is not impossible. The standard is sacrificial. To be in relationship with challenging people is a sacrifice. But what is sacrifice? It is love. It is showing grace to the mean-hearted, it is respecting those that do you wrong, it’s is taking time to help the needy; and it is being generous with our time, talents and money.

Why does Jesus spend time on the subject of relationship? Why is God unity? Why does the Holy Spirit work on our hearts to forgive and live peaceably? Because as followers of Jesus, we are His ambassadors on this earth. We are purposed to reflect His Kingdom and His will on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Our unity in the body of Christ, our love for all kinds and types of people brings God glory and us honor. For no matter what we do, we should first and foremost bring God glory.

Happy Friday!