The Daily Encounter
"God <-- Us --> Others (It's all connected)"
As much as we might want to, we can't disconnect our relationship with God from our relationships with others. We can't pretend to be at peace with God and be surrounded by broken relationships that have no peace. We can't cultivate intimacy with Christ but be satisfied to live in conflict with the people around us.
The two relationships are intertwined. They are indelibly linked.
How?
Our relationship with God is meant to shape and inform our relationships with others (Love God ... Love your neighbor). And, perhaps surprisingly, our relationship with others will impact and influence our relationship with God. Listen to what Jesus said:
“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." - Jesus, in Matthew 6:14-15
Jesus isn't talking about salvation here. He's not telling us to earn God's redeeming forgiveness through our forgiveness of others. He's referring to our day-to-day connectedness. It's about the intimacy we cultivate with Him in the ongoing journey of following Christ. That's the forgiveness Jesus is talking about. That's a forgiveness influenced by our willingness to forgive those around us.
God <-- Us --> Others
It's all connected.
So who do you need to forgive today?
-Landon R
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