It’s all about Relationship…
Recently a friend of mine called me to ask a favor. He was selling a car to a Dealership and needed a ride back home to save him the 15 mile walk. He didn’t have anyone else at the time that could pick him up and the dealership is in a spot where a lot of construction is going on so it is hard to get to if you have not been there before. I have been there before, a couple of times and one of those times was about two months ago so I was familiar with the location, the area and the ordeal it is to get there. But that’s not why he called me or why I willingly went to pick him up. All he had to do was ask.
One of my neighbors is currently out of town so I am sharing with another neighbor the responsibility of caring for their 2 dogs and a cat. Even though it is not always convenient and does take up some time, I do it gladly. All they had to do was ask.
Next week is Thanksgiving. Emily and I will travel to be with most of her family. One of our nieces is flying into Dallas and will tag along on the road trip. The airline ticket is much cheaper to Dallas and it makes for a fun trip to have family we haven’t seen in a while go with us. The trip is long and the time is short, but none of that matters. All she had to do was ask.
Jesus Christ came down to earth to live as a man to walk among us to teach us about how to live to demonstrate His and the Father’s love for us by dying on a cross to pay for our sins. He wants to come into our lives and live through us. All we have to do is ask.
See all of this is about relationship. The reason I picked up my friend, take care of the neighbors dogs, make room for another person to travel with us, the reason Jesus gave up His life for me, is all about relationship.
I go to church and our small group because of relationship. I go to work to provide for Emily and I because of relationship. I come home and help the neighbors, let the kids play in the yard and even wrestle with a 5 year old (which by the way, I taught to use a guillotine choke and he does it well) because of relationship. I travel cross-country to see family, would do anything for my two brothers, walk our dog, feed our cat and spend time reading my Bible all based on relationship.
In this season of my life it is my only motivating factor. I spent most of my life doing it all for me and “rewards” but those reasons are now so unimportant. I do it all based on relationship. Jesus taught me that. He wants more than anything a relationship with you and me. Not some formula we use to gain some sort of favor or make our way to God. He wants to walk with you and talk with you and enter into your life, meet you where you are and teach you a better way to live. All you have to do is ask, because without that relationship, nothing you do will matter.
It’s all about Relationship.
Matt's Anthology 