We are talking a break from Job on the post because what I read in 1 Corinthians this evening seems like it needs talked about more than the story of Job.
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. (1 Corinthians 4:20)
Some people talk a lot of faith but that is all it is. There are so many people who know the right words to say, but their lives don't reflect God's power. Paul says that the kingdom of God is to be lived, not just discussed. There is a big difference between knowing the right words and living them out. Don't be content to have the right answers about Christ. Let your life show that God's power is really working in you.
The best example that I have of this right now is the relationship I am in. What drew me to Rachel was her love for Jesus. That is the most attractive thing about her. Before we started dating we agreed that we were going to have a Christ centered relationship. We did too. I would get asked all the time what I liked most about Rachel and I would always tell people her love for Jesus. That was always my number one answer because that was the truth, and quite honestly that sounds the best.
I have been in situations like this before where I would claim to be a part of a Christ centered relationship but it was either one way, or sometimes we would be Christ centered and other times we wouldn't.
With Rachel, we wanted it to be Christ centered from the very beginning. The first month or so when we were dating, we would often talk about Jesus, often times it was daily. We would tell each other that we were praying for each other because that is something that we did. Things were super great! But we believed that we could do better.
Would you believe me if I told you things could get better?
Things got a whole lot better. About a month ago, Rachel recommended that we start doing bible plans on the Bible App. I didn't know you could do this, but I was down for it. I then told her that I wanted to start reading the Bible together and we both agreed that we should pray together as well. We started all of this at once.
My love for her took off once we started doing these things. I had feelings for her like I have never had for anyone and that continues and strengthens everyday. There is so much power in actually having a Christ centered relationship rather than saying that you have one. That power comes from doing something about it and not just saying that we put God first.
Our relationship has been a great way to share Jesus with others as well and the work that he is doing in both of our lives. Whenever I am asked about Rachel I get into talking about how we do devos, read our bibles and pray together. I believe that it's encouraging to other people. Plus, it's okay to boast about God.
One thing that we have both learned and I know that Rachel can testify to this, is that our individual relationship with God is what comes first. When we are right with God, we are right for each other. Having our own personal Jesus time is more important than having it together. My faith is my own, and her faith is her own. I love Jesus more than anything with all my heart and she does too and when you are with somebody who really lives their life that way, there is nothing better.
For example, yesterday afternoon I was really stressed out and I was FaceTiming Rachel in my car before I went into the grocery store. She could tell that I was stressed and she wanted to help. Instead of just telling me encouraging things to make me happy and feel better, she offered to pray. You can say all of that nice things you want to someone, but it won't mean nearly as much until you live out your faith. Rachel trusted that her and I praying together would help our stress and it did. Power is greater than talk...The power of Jesus and doing something about your faith is greater than any words that we will ever say.
When it comes to relationships, there is no greater verse than this: Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness. (2 Corinthians 6:14)
There is one more example about this that I want to share. Another thing that I am very proud of about Rachel and I is that we created a relationship goals list. (one of the reasons I like this is because I don't like looking at other couples and thinking of them at "goals.") This list is full of the things that we want and are going to commit to the relationship. I made a list, Rachel made a list, and together we made one. There are things that we both promised and committed to doing and we also have things we have committed to do together. I was blown away by the power of doing something like this. When we first shared our lists together, I read mine with some tears in my eyes because what was happening between us was so powerful and it was like nothing I have have experienced with someone.
I am not writing about this to tell everyone that we are perfect. We aren't perfect. Nobody is perfect, I am telling you all about how we do these things because there is so much more power in doing something rather than talking about it. You don't have to apply this only to a relationship that you might be in, you can apply it many ways to your faith.
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