Monday, August 16, 2010

It Starts with God

Exodus 2:21-25

21 Moses accepted the invitation, and he settled there with him. In time, Reuel gave Moses his daughter Zipporah to be his wife. 22 Later she gave birth to a son, and Moses named him Gershom, for he explained, “I have been a foreigner in a foreign land.”

23 Years passed, and the king of Egypt died. But the Israelites continued to groan under their burden of slavery. They cried out for help, and their cry rose up to God. 24 God heard their groaning, and he remembered his covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25 He looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.

We know certain things about God.

  1. We are His idea.
  2. He loves us.
  3. He knows what is best for us.
  4. He wants what is best for us.
  5. He can do what is best for us.

God wants to be active in all areas of our lives, including our relationships. God is willing and able to help us in our lives with others.

The people of Israel were struggling in their relationships. You can't really blame them. The harsh conditions would test even the most patient of people. They had no place to put their head at night. The days were long. Hope was not evident. Relationships are tough even under the best of conditions. Stress in life puts stress on relationships.

So they called upon God. They knew they were loved by God. And that God knew, wanted, and could do what was best for them. So God looked down on the people, remembered the promise he made them, and knew it was time to act.

God acts as a bridge between people. Some bodies of water look like they can't be crossed. And most likely they can't without the help of a bridge. And so it is with relationships. Some of them can't work without God.

As we begin this two week journey of strengthening our interpersonal relationships, God is who we begin with.

Some practical tips are:

  1. Seek God's wisdom for relational advice by reading the Bible.
  2. Pray to God for direction in your relationships.
  3. Pray with others in your life. Common prayer is an intimate and effective form of communication.

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