Relationship Angle!

I was recently intrigued by a photo showing the backs of three teens sitting together. They sat in the order of boy, boy, and girl. The boy in the center had his arm around the girl, indicating they were a couple. However, the girl was holding hands with the other boy behind the center boy's back. This picture also brought to mind a recent calendar quote: "Most love triangles end up as wrecktangles." It is the lack of commitment and devotion that ruins many relationships. The world says, "play the field", but such often results in others being used rather than reflecting an understanding of the development of meaningful relationships. Though all relationships may not be on the same level, they still ought to be properly approached and maintained.

In Paul's second letter to the church at Corinth, he exhorted. . .
"(2) For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I BETROTHED YOU TO ONE HUSBAND, TO PRESENT YOU AS A PURE VIRGIN TO CHRIST. (3) But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (4) For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough." ( 2 Corinthians 11:2-4 ESV)

The church is referred to as the Bride of the Lamb ( Revelation 19:7; 21:9) and is therefore the Bride of Christ. Such is the relationship Paul sought to establish between the Corinthian Christians and Jesus. Paul was writing because some were coming in and by their teaching were leading some away from Christ. A SINGLENESS OF FOCUS needed to remain on Him. Paul's goal was to draw others into a "SINCERE AND PURE DEVOTION TO CHRIST."

As Christians, we are to remain in a faithful relationship with Jesus. So many claim to hold a solid relationship with Him while really holding hands tightly elsewhere: with the world, with sports, with hobbies, with others, etc. When we approach relationships and other aspects of life from the angle of JESUS BEING FIRST AND FOREMOST, then we will more likely approach all other relationships in a manner that is healthy and God glorifying. May we seek to retain that "SINCERE AND PURE DEVOTION" to the Lord!

Have a great day REMAINING HAND-IN-HAND WITH JESUS.
Carl

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