You’ve read the closing line of the poem by Mary Stevenson entitled “Footprints In The Sand:”
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints, is when I carried you.”
This is perhaps the quintessential statement about a very important concept of relationships—
We are never alone, God is always with us.
Doing Life together as a church family requires us to explore our relationship with those seated around us, and also with our Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus tell us in one of his love letters (John 14:18), “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” That statement always touches my heart. Do you ever feel orphaned at times, as I do? Even as an adult, there are times I feel alone. But then, when I look away from the mirror and into the eyes of those who surround me, I quickly realize I am not alone. God is always there with me and for me, and He has placed others alongside me as well.
Read John 14 and 15
- Do you ever feel orphaned or alone?
- Where is Jesus during these times of loneliness (John 14:18)?
- What relationships has God placed in your life to support you?
- What do you feel is your God-given role in the body of Christ?
- Why did God choose this hodge-podge of humanity for His church (verse 25)?
- How have you experienced concern from Christ’s followers?
- How have you expressed concern for your fellow members?
Read Romans 12:5-6
- Who are the healthy relationships in your life?
- How do you show consideration for these special people?
- How do you cooperate?
- What are the unhealthy relationships?
- Think of a relationship in which you felt coerced, or a time you applied pressure to someone else.
- What is the status of that relationship today?
Read Philippians 2:1-4
- Rate yourself in these areas of respectful relationships
| Prompt | Late |
| Polite | Rude |
| Positive | Negative |
| Presentable | Unorganized |
| Patient | Impatient |
| Predictable | Unpredictable |
Will you, like me, commit to make the most of our relationship with the Lord by walking and talking with Him? One way you can do this is by reading His letters and conversing with him often. During this series on Relationships, my prayer for you is that you will grow and cultivate the many important relationships around you.
“Lord, thank you for those I’m in relationship with and especially for your Son, Jesus Christ. Deepen my relationship with you today through the power of your Holy Spirit. Allow me to hear your voice and to experience the pleasure of your grace. Awaken my spirit to those around me and quicken my heart to foster more meaningful relationships.”