My dear friend Tracy really sees the poetry of life, she seeks after Wisdom and she loves the Lord. I am so glad she shares her heart with us. Won’t you make her feel welcome by posting a comment below?

Consider the multiple modes of communication which bless our eyes, ears, and fingertips.  Words with family, friends, and acquaintances are a cybersecond away.  Alexander Graham Bell would be quite astounded and impressed.

Are we utilizing this gift of communication in a way that pleases the Lord?  In a way that builds and grows our relationships with Him and others?

Recently  a friend sent me a fairly long email.  At the time when I received the message , I was simply scanning over messages, not lingering.  Naturally, I made a mental note to return to the message when I had more time to respond.

Webster’s defines time as “duration considered independent of any system of measurement.  The sample sentence from his classical dictionary is by Chaucer…”The time wasteth night and day.”  “Wasteth”.  Britta wrote a post on procrastination which described me quite well, unfortunately.

Due to my delay, my friend’s email message was now overcome by a plethora of others and slipped further and further off of my page and in turn, out of my mind.

Two weeks later, I ran into this friend, who had deliberately crafted a message for me.  She was concerned she had offended me by the text in her email.   The one I didn’t read.  Oh, how I cringed with regret and apology.  And my neglect of her disturbed her sense of internal peace.

Studying how God calls us to respond in relationship to Him
might unlock clues to our relationships with others.

 
In order for growth to occur, God requires response.  In Hebrews 4:2, we see that the good news reached the people of Israel, but it did not benefit them, “because it did not meet with faith.”  They did not respond.

We see in Hebrews, chapter 11, where God requires a response of faith….”But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him ”  (Hebrews 11:6).

Paul cries out to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 6:11-13, ” O Corinthians!  We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.  You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.  Now in return for the same, you also be open.” Respond!!!

God is represented in Scripture as pleading with men:

• “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 1:18)
• “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden , and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28_
• In His conversation with the rich young ruler Jesus says, ” If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me”  (Matthew 19:21).
• In John 5:6, when Jesus saw a man who had not walked for 38 years, He said to him, ” Do you want to be made well?”

God requires our response.

Our intentional, deliberate Lord initiates the fruits of the Spirit with “love , joy, and then peace”.  I wonder if I might transfer this to our relationships with one another.  When someone reaches out in love, the response we give in return produces JOY and in turn provides peace of mind for the sender.  She /He is not left to question and wonder about possible offense.  1 John 4:19 declares,”We love Him because He first loved us.”  Love will not reach you, unless you respond.

Once again, I am placed in an opportunity to grow.  There will be no progress unless I respond to Him and others.  I am reminded  to “widen my heart” and consider others first.  The offering of peace in relationship might be concealed in something as simple as an offering of response.  How would you respond today?