A relationship is a two-way street. Just try maintaining one with someone that isn’t the least bit interested in it. The communication is poor because you don’t fully understand the other person, and they don’t care to understand you. Trust is an issue because there’s no foundation to build it. So, you have a situation where you’re doing all the work, and you’re not receiving any benefit. You can’t call that a friendship or a relationship. Both would require the effort of two individuals that are committed to come together to gain from each other, as well as give to one another. They have something in common, and it makes them want to be connected—to be patient and caring to one another, and to engage in an enduring union or partnership of some kind.
Through the relationship He has with His Son, Jesus Christ, God has given us a wonderful example of what a true relationship looks like. In John 8:29(NLT), Jesus Christ said, “And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” Jesus Christ is a part of the Godhead, so he has intimate knowledge that God is the best, always chooses the best, always loves the best, and always wants the best for those He loves. It is very easy to want to please a loving God like this. You can trust Him because He cannot fail, and will never leave or forsake you.
Concerning his life and ministry on earth, we sometimes make the mistake of thinking that Jesus had an easy time of it when it comes to doing things the right way, and making all the right decisions and choices. Hebrews 4:15 tells us that in Jesus Christ, we have a high priest that faced the same temptations that we do, but he never sinned. This is truly one of the amazing things about our wonderful Lord and Savior. He could have made the choice to sin, but he chose love every time. The Son always pleased the Father.
From a Problem to a Prize
Romans 12:2 (NLT) tells us, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” This verse contains God’s transformation plan. It takes us from being a problem to becoming His prize. As we read the Old Testament, we can clearly see how God’s people were a problem to themselves, and to others as well. They vacillated in their devotion to God. They ran hot one minute and cold the next. They worshipped idol gods, and this was a strict no-no in God’s laws. We needed a work to be done on our behalf, so that we could be a foundation of His love that would be everlasting—that would be dependable, steady, and strong. We needed to get back to the place where Adam was before he sinned.
It’s amazing to contemplate this, but God’s love for us has no beginning or end. He had been thinking about us for longer than we would be able to calculate. James 1:17(NKJV) tells us, “17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” Aren’t these some of the most beautiful words you’ve ever heard?! We’re God’s prized possession! Just as we love our children, He loves us more. He always wanted a family upon which to lavish His love and blessings, but our transformation was a must! We had to change course and begin to spiritually grow in the direction of His love.
From a Prize to God’s Glory
Be it biological, marital, or friendships, Heavenly Father set-up the parameters of relationships on earth to teach us how to grow in our relationship with Him. A relationship with Him gives us what we need to grow spiritually, to love each other, and most importantly, to love Him. Our entire earth experience is given so that we can learn to respond to God in a relationship that is two-sided: He pours love and blessings into us, and in return, we love Him by responding to His goodness through gratitude and faith. This brings about communion and fellowship on a level that pleases Him.
God set up patterns within this earthly realm to help us preserve our relationship with Him. He is consistent beyond what any of us can imagine, and He executed these patterns as a way of bringing consistency and stability to our lives, and throughout creation.
In Genesis 1:24, we learn one of God’s patterns for creation, and it is that everything produces after its own kind. From this pattern, the parental relationship comes into play. The parental relationship is very important to understanding our relationship with God. At the root of biological relationships is the reality that children carry the seed of their fathers; this is what gives a man the distinction of being a biological dad. Biological relationships stem from genetics and attributes that relate to the composition of the human body. They begin the physical part of our existence, but this is only a small part of our story. Biological relationships serve us beautifully as we operate in this earthly domain, but we all know that our earthly bodies in their current form will not last.
A human child can only be produced by a seed from its biological father. Jesus Christ took it to the next level when he told us in John 3:6 (NLT), “Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.” We are the body of Christ! We were created to be spiritual beings with a soul, housed in a flesh and blood body. God is Spirit, and He is our Spiritual Father. So, just as the body of a child is seeded through his biological father, we have God’s seed through the Holy Spirit that indwells us. Christ made the seed of the Holy Spirit available to us through his sacrifice. Romans 8:29(NLT) tells us, “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
It’s really too awesome to digest, but to try and put it in context, we have to think for a second about the magnificence and grandiosity of God. He’s beyond any word in the human vocabulary, and yet, He’s our Father. We are children of the Father Creator, who created out of His infinite intelligence and understanding everything that exists. It’s mind-blowing! 2Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) says it best, “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
Because of Jesus Christ, we are sons and daughters of the Almighty God! We are transformed with every decision we make to surrender our will for His Will, and to become more like Christ. Romans 8:17 tells us that we’re God’s children, and we’re joint heirs with Christ of God’s glory! This cements the great big plans Heavenly Father has for us all. His glory is the crème de la crème of all there is. You cannot get any higher than God’s glory, and He’s made us the recipients of it through His wondrous only begotten Son, Jesus Christ!■
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“We Are God’s Prized Possessions” written by Reverend Fran Mack, edited by Kim Times for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2017. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.