Good Morning,...I'm hoping you have a great and blessed week! I
ask myself, "if someone spent the whole day with me, how would they
feel at the end of the day,...worn out or built up?" That's the kind of
question I began to think about, after listening to a DVD of Clark Hutchinson, talking
about relationships. He said he has noticed three kinds of
relationships: draining, neutral, and replenishing. Hutchinson pointed out that
Jesus experienced all three kinds of relationships. Those that exhausted
His energy were perhaps the most common in our Lord's earthly
experience, for He spent much of His time giving. He healed the sick,
encouraged the downtrodden, and taught the masses. We know that
sometimes He must have been worn out by these experiences. He often went
away to pray and renew Himself (Matt. 14:23; Luke 5:16).
Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.—John 12:2,3 (NIV)
Some
of His relationships were
probably just casual contacts. But the replenishing ones encouraged
Jesus. They were relationships with people such as Mary, Martha, and
Lazarus,...whose love and presence uplifted the Him. How do we relate to
our
friends, acquaintances, and family members? We can add to their lives a
measure of happiness by giving them a chance to talk,...encouraging
them,...and suggesting life's brighter side. So now I ask you this
question; Do we leave people drained or replenished?
To get the most out of a relationship,...put all you can into it.
Father God, replenish our strength and energy,...that we may be able to refresh others.
"The
things that make God most dear to us, are not the great big blessings,
as much as the tiny things,...because they show His amazing intimacy
with us."
No comments:
Post a Comment