A Gift
I am finally writing a post about relationships. So why would I call this a gift? The Lord has been teaching me a lot... well about relationships. The one thing that I've kinda avoided. I've put it on the back burner of life well because having a boyfriend isn't my priority. I don't think relationships are bad, they are good because as human we are relational beings. We have friendships, dating relationships, and marriage. Each are a gift. Being single is a gift.
I am not hear to argue my point of why being single is a gift but to simply state what I have learned and may have yet to learn. I am happy and am joyful. I know it might be ironic or punny to some about Joy being joyful but this is something I have learned. The fruit of the spirit joy does not come from me but from Christ. My joy is found in him. I can be myself, he provides, he leads, and he loves. He is everything I've ever needed. Since I've been single, I've found joy in my Savior. Jesus gives joy.
I've been in a relationship before. Those of you who know me well... they know who this person is. I will not bash him ever on this blog. As I look back, I realized how much of a terrible girlfriend I was. I was a terror, a stumbling block, and an idol worshiper. These are strong words but strong words I do not regret saying about myself. When the relationship ended, I was a mess and I was so lost. I was so ugly and gross, but I was broken. You want to know why... I lost my so called "god". I made him a god and the relationship I had with him a god. I was idolizing and treasuring the people and things that were and are not Christ. These things cannot save me from my sin... only Jesus! Jesus, the perfect and spotless Lamb of God who became my righteousness for my sinfulness. Relationships end because we ourselves make an idol of something or someone that is not God.
When we lose ourselves in Jesus, our relationship with him will become deeper. We trust him, we become more intimate, we fall in love with Jesus so much more. When we abide in him, he abides in us. So am I excluding marriage or even dating relationships as not good? No! I believe we can become more intimate with Jesus in marriage and in dating relationships. The Bible is very clear about this matter. Marriage is good. The beautiful picture of marriage is painted by Christ and the church. We the church are his bride. To those who have never been married... Christ is working through you as he wills and he has a plan greater than what you can see. I have learned something about dating relationships through my dad and step-mom in their long distance relationship so many years ago. As a ten year old, I saw the change in my dad and the growth the Lord caused in my dad even though I did not know the Lord.
So why is every relationship a gift? They draw us and point us to Christ whether we are single or not.
I am not hear to argue my point of why being single is a gift but to simply state what I have learned and may have yet to learn. I am happy and am joyful. I know it might be ironic or punny to some about Joy being joyful but this is something I have learned. The fruit of the spirit joy does not come from me but from Christ. My joy is found in him. I can be myself, he provides, he leads, and he loves. He is everything I've ever needed. Since I've been single, I've found joy in my Savior. Jesus gives joy.
I've been in a relationship before. Those of you who know me well... they know who this person is. I will not bash him ever on this blog. As I look back, I realized how much of a terrible girlfriend I was. I was a terror, a stumbling block, and an idol worshiper. These are strong words but strong words I do not regret saying about myself. When the relationship ended, I was a mess and I was so lost. I was so ugly and gross, but I was broken. You want to know why... I lost my so called "god". I made him a god and the relationship I had with him a god. I was idolizing and treasuring the people and things that were and are not Christ. These things cannot save me from my sin... only Jesus! Jesus, the perfect and spotless Lamb of God who became my righteousness for my sinfulness. Relationships end because we ourselves make an idol of something or someone that is not God.
When we lose ourselves in Jesus, our relationship with him will become deeper. We trust him, we become more intimate, we fall in love with Jesus so much more. When we abide in him, he abides in us. So am I excluding marriage or even dating relationships as not good? No! I believe we can become more intimate with Jesus in marriage and in dating relationships. The Bible is very clear about this matter. Marriage is good. The beautiful picture of marriage is painted by Christ and the church. We the church are his bride. To those who have never been married... Christ is working through you as he wills and he has a plan greater than what you can see. I have learned something about dating relationships through my dad and step-mom in their long distance relationship so many years ago. As a ten year old, I saw the change in my dad and the growth the Lord caused in my dad even though I did not know the Lord.
So why is every relationship a gift? They draw us and point us to Christ whether we are single or not.
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