A forever relationship

When it comes to relationship teaching, there is no better starting point than the Bible. It is replete with life events that show both sides of relationships and leave the reader in no doubt as to where God stands in each scenario.

The particular relationship I want to focus on here though is that which transpired between Jesus and His disciples; the general populace who followed Jesus and ‘the twelve’. Within that realm of relationship, we are given a very clear picture of both the reactions and responses of Jesus to those who followed Him and, in turn, their various responses to His teaching, His day-to-day lifestyle and His demands upon those who would follow Him as disciples. We know that some walked away because it was ‘all too hard’, while others faltered but returned and were given another opportunity to serve Him and the overall cause of Christ.

These were disciples who, almost to a man, gave their lives for Christ – most times in the most horrific circumstances. They counted it a privilege to have been in relationship with Christ and to die for Him. These men and women (and still many today) had a revelation of the person of Jesus Christ and discovered that there was no substitute for a consistently growing relationship with Him, even if that meant persecution and, quite possibly, death.

They saw beyond the now to a time when their pain and suffering would be swallowed up, their death would indeed be a victory and would be followed by their reunion with the living Christ and all those disciples who had gone before them.

Again, the Bible is very clear about this and there is no way around it. If a person is genuine about relationship with Jesus Christ, he or she should also be serious about the possibility of persecution for the faith. It is not that we should be masochistic or defeatist. No, there is great joy and many blessings in serving Christ. It is simply that to be ignorant of the possibility can lead to a ‘fair weather’ relationship with Christ that will not stand up to pressures that may come our way, leading to compromise or, worse, denial of Jesus Christ.

Relationship with Jesus Christ is the best relationship one can have for, in spite of difficulties and persecutions that may come, He is the only one to have conquered death and who therefore can (and does) offer eternal life beyond this world for those who would follow Him.

With you on the journey
Don & Julie