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Dearly Beloved,

Ever stepped on a piece of Lego? 

While for our kids the years of playing Lego are now behind them, the memories of the sharp edges of a single misplaced Lego piece finding the tender and sensitive underside of my foot (with the full force of a 200+lb step) still are fresh and haunt me. 

Ouch.

Lego pieces are designed in such a way that they are meant to fit together, be connected, and build all kinds of wonderful things. Yet sometimes they cause pain. 

Kind of like relationships.

People are designed by God in such a way that they are meant to fit together, be connected, and build all kinds of wonderful things. Yet sometimes they cause pain. 

All throughout scripture and most precisely in Jesus, we see that God is a relational God and envisions His children being a relational family of faith. A family in which His love, truth, and renewal can build into our world and eternity. It should be no surprise, then, that the Bible has plenty to offer to help people relationally.

This past Sunday, our guest speaker, Chris Synesael from the Victoria Church Plant we are partnering to support (see our Others & Elsewhere magazine!), brought an excellent message from Galatians 5 (catch it here if you missed it). 

You may not realize it, but Galatians 5 has SO MUCH to do with relationships. Let's consider the 'acts of the sinful nature' and the 'fruit of the Spirit.'

Acts of the Sinful Nature
It's not a pretty list of 15 things: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery (lust); idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness and orgies. 

Notice how they are categorized by Paul? 

  • Sexual Sins (the first 3 things listed together)
  • Sins of Worship (the next 2 things listed together)
  • Sins of Excess (the last 2 things listed together, drunkenness and orgies) 

    This leaves one remaining category in the middle:
  • Relational Sins

    This hefty list features 8 examples of relational sin! 

    Why such emphasis and elaboration? Because relationships matter so much to God and to the family of God! And as we learn from the book of Galatians (and throughout the New Testament writings and church), these cannot go ignored or unaddressed.

Fruit of the Spirit 

This is a much nicer list!: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

How many of these are relational? All of them! 

None of us get relationships right all the time. Relationships are hard! The good news of Galatians and of chapter 5 is that in spite of our good intentions and best efforts, which still fall short, God gifts us His Spirit who can empower us to grow relationally. It matters to God! 

Consider these words from Ephesians 4.15-16:

We will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is Christ. From Him the whole body, joined and held together ... grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. 

Like Lego! 

Pastor Mike 

Ps- Last Sunday, Laura RE-introduced a song. A throwback to the 90's called "I've Found Jesus". We'll be singing it again (Easter is coming!), so you should have a look at the great lyrics and give it a listen a few more times so you can join in singing it from the bottom of your heart! I know that the words reflect your story, too! 

Pastor Mike