The Bright Side of Relating
Fellowship – Part 2

Scripture Reading:  1 John 1:1-6

Key Verse:  1 John 1:7

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

As we continue yesterday’s devotional, I want to look deeper into meaningful relationships.  God designed us to create them when He told man to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife.  The two of them were to multiply, creating a family unit.  This was the centerpiece of our relations and where we are to enjoy fellowship.

            We really can’t enjoy abundant life without spending meaningful time with people who care about us.  One social researcher wrote that happiness is best predicted by the breadth and depth of one’s social connections.  As John Ortberg reminds us, connectedness is not the same thing as knowing many people.  After my father-in-law passed away, my mother-in-law testified to experiencing loneliness in the midst of a large crowd of people that surrounded her.  Many could testify to this same experience.  It takes more than people being around to satisfy the deep needs of our lives.

            God said that it isn’t good for man to be alone.  He created us for meaningful relationships.  We need to relate to our relatives; we were built for it!  We do that through touch, through listening, through our kind words and prayer together.  Don’t write off relating to your relatives, they are important people in your own pursuit of happiness!

Father, I thank you that you have given me family to relate to.  Help me to show your love and kindness to them today.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.