Now we have to be accountable before the others to be healthy as believers. We cannot live like lone islands and be independent of other brothers and sisters in Christ. We are called to live not just before God, but before other believers as well.
«For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known». (1st Corinthians 13:9-12).
Remember, what is the first sign of a change man? It is the changed attitude towards other people. Joseph’s attitude towards his brothers tells us that he had been changed. Imagine that these were the people that sold him into slavery and caused him to go through pain, misery, losses, trials and serious problems. And now brothers came to Joseph for help and he helped – freely and with no desire to pay back for all the pain. He was able to do it because he was changed and freed from unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment.
Our relationships with God are expressed through love, joy and peace.
Our relationships with others are expressed through longsuffering, kindness and goodness.
Our relationships with self are expressed through faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Only the Lord knows the true condition of our hearts, and He wants to help us look into our hearts using the relationships we are involved in. Our views, actions and lack of actions, our words – all of these things cause particular reaction which determines the level of our spiritual maturity.
When we talk about changes, we talk about the condition of one’s heart. What others do to us does not come from us; it is directed towards us to test the condition of our hearts. Our reaction to the actions of others and the outside pressure determine the content of our hearts.
«Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life» (Proverbs, 4:23).
What happens when we build relationships with other people? These relationships uncover in us the faults we have not seen before. In every one of us there is a lot of dross that needs to be cleansed out so that we could conform to the image of Jesus Christ.
Many people declare themselves to be perfect since they are a new creature and the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Dear friends, it is good to have faith. But it is not enough to believe these things in our hearts and to confess them with our mouths. If we neglect the instruments of transformation that God ordained to change us, then our actual lives will be far from our confessions.
All people need change; we help each other through relationships that we are involved. God alone does not need to change; all the people, on the other side, desperately need to change. We need each other and we help each other to change. If we do not understand it and lose sight of it, then it will be hard for us to build any relationships.
Our God is the God of relationships, and He uses relationships to change us. Every relationship influences those that are involved. The divine goal for every relationship is for us to be changed through them, be perfected and grow into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
My life preaches even when I don’t know about it. This is why it is so important to be changed so that our lives reflect what we say and comply with it. Our lives must be our loudest sermon and not our words. It is the will of God for us.
God changes us not only through trials and hardships, but also through His grace and mercy.
