JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Key Element for Thriving Relationships is grace.
We can be useful instruments of God’s redemptive plan as His grace flows through us in our relationships. Here is how:
Grace can flow through us in a friendly greeting. The Bible is filled with greetings extending the grace and peace of God to someone else.
Grace can flow through our generous spirit. Second Corinthians 8:7 challenges us to excel in the grace of giving.
Grace also flows through acts of service. First Peter 4:10 instructs us to use whatever gift we have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
God also works through our gracious conversation to be voices that reconcile people to God and build meaningful relationships.
Grace is a key element for thriving relationships that honor God.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Relationship-Building Principle comes from Third John, verse 14b.
Peace to you. The friends here send their greetings. Greet the friends there by name.
It may be challenging to remember the names of the people we meet, but calling people by name is often a bridge-builder. In a climate where businesses often identify us by number, it is refreshing to be known by our name. This is the way of God toward His creation.
The Bible says He knows the stars by name. Do you know how many stars are in the universe? According to Nick Vujicic of Life Without Limbs, astronomers estimate there are 3 hundred sextillion stars in the universe, which amounts to 3 with 23 zeroes after it. Psalm 147, verse 4 says about the LORD, “He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name.”
He is not just personally familiar with the stars. He is also personally familiar with His people. David wrote in Psalm 139, “You have searched me and you know me….” And verse 3 says, “You are familiar with all my ways.” So, when we greet each other by name, we are reflecting the personal friendship that the Lord offers us.
Greeting friends by name is a relationship-building principle to take to heart in the Year of Connection.
John Shirk
john@wjtl.com
