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The Power of Relationships

If we love one another, God lives in us
and His love is made complete in us.
I JOHN 4:12 NIV

Isn’t that an amazing verse? If we love one another, God lives in us. And if He lives in us His love is made complete in us. The KJV says His love is perfected in us. The NLT says: His love has been brought to full expression through us.

Doesn’t it just give you a warm feeling to be around family and friends? Who else makes you feel loved like them? Their love really does make you feel complete and whole, doesn’t it? And when you make a new friend or your family expands it’s like discovering a wonderful new treasure.

I recently attended a funeral of a close friend. As I looked around at all the people at the funeral I thought to myself, “that’s really what life is all about.” The relationships we build as believers are really the most important thing we do in life because they are the only thing we will take with us to heaven. Relationships for Christians are eternal. My friend is with his friends and family who went on before him. One day the rest of the relationships he shared with believers will join him.

When I think about relationships in this way it gives them a whole new meaning. It makes me want to appreciate and nurture my family and friends more than ever. It also makes me want to meet more people—new gifts from the Lord!

Lord, please help us to love others as You would. Help us to not take our family and friends for granted, but let us value them and cherish them as the special treasures they are. Amen

Linn Carlson—
dad, husband, friend,
and part time writer.

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