January 29 Thought for the day...a plan to never be alone

Our lives are so hectic. We have all kinds of connections, people we work with, attend church with, hundreds of Facebook friends but despite all of these many are very lonely. Many today do not even have any real relationships in their lives. This is precisely opposite God's plan for us.

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another." Romans 12:10

Paul through the Holy Spirit is telling us about the type of relationship we should have with each other. The phrase translated "be kindly affection" means to have the kind of friendship, real friends have a trusting, sincere, deep, loving, tender love that actually is like the kind we were supposed to have between family members. I say "supposed to have," because my generation has messed up so many of the millennials by not truly loving them. Much of the love given from my generation to the next was selfish meant only to make us look good or not helping the child to deal with tough times because we didn't want to face the pain our children would go through. This is a love that esteems each other as highly as if we are family.

The Holy Spirit adds to this "brotherly love." This phrase further stresses the point. We are to love each other as deeply as if we are true blood brothers and sisters connecting in a deep relationship.

The phrase "in honor" means that we should see each other as highly valuable and extremely precious. We should esteem each other so much as to desire one another's success greater than our own. We should always rejoice at each others success.

"Giving preference" is the Holy Spirit's way of explaining to us that we should value our friendship with each other that we always want the very best for each other. There is no room for jealousy, competition, or envy only rejoicing and promoting each others success.

I know you are saying, I wish I had that kind of friendship in the church. The way to get it is, be that way to others first. What seeds you sow you will gain in return. We don't have to agree with everything, no family does, but we need to love each other always and completely. Your church family should be the most loving, sincere, powerful relationships you have. It starts with you!