Christian Relationships

"One is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." Matt.23:8.

The Word of God is the unfailing guide for the Christian who is here "in the world but not of it," and its pages reveal many relationships—so many indeed that to consider them all would take a very long time; but there are four in particular which we would do well to ponder over as we strive to follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Master. These are:—Our Relationship to Christ; Our Relationship to the World; Our Relationship to the Brethren, and Our Relationship to God.

Regarding the first, our Lord said, "Ye are my friends, if ye do what I command you." He did not say "you will be called my friends," but "ye are actually my friends." At the time these words were spoken the disciples would not understand their full import; this was revealed to them later by the Spirit. The disciples had a great experience at Pentecost (so great that others thought they were intoxicated) and they there learned how they were really to be His friends. They had known Him, witnessed His crucifixion, seen Him laid in the grave, and thought their hopes were dashed; but then they saw Him raised and knew He was raised to the Father's right hand, and their hearts were filled with joy. They were friends of the One Who died and was raised, and had fulfilled all the conditions that would give them life.

This friendship is upon conditions:—"If ye do whatsoever I command you." For three and a half years He kept His Father's commandments Himself, then He said, "Walk ye in my footsteps." Our path, therefore, will be a difficult one, for it means we must strive for the perfection of Christ. He laid nothing upon us that is impossible. His commandments are all possible and we have the Holy Spirit in our hearts helping us to obey. The gospels from Matthew 5 to John 16 are full of our Lord's commandments. They teach honesty of heart; we must bring no dishonour on the name of Christ. They teach purity of mind, for our minds are changed and purified and become the mind of Christ. They also teach forgiveness; we must be ready to forgive. Our brethren need forgiveness, and we are even to pray for those who harm us. The spirit of forgiveness must be strong in our hearts. Some say that the Sermon on the Mount is impossible of attainment; but if so, why did the Lord give it? He said "I will send you the Holy Spirit," and this Holy Spirit shows us how to obey all His commandments and so become His friends. Jesus has always been our friend, but we have not always been His friends.

Our relationship to the world. The first commandment in Matthew 5 is, "Ye are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." How can we glorify God before men? Our Lord came and let His light shine before men, but they did not glorify God; they blasphemed God and crucified His Son. Men do not yet glorify God; they still continue in the downward path. Light is best seen in darkness by those who are seeking for light. The astronomer does not work by day, but by night, and sees things never seen by others; so, only to the few, the "spiritual astronomers," are these things revealed. Our Lord did not say "all men shall glorify God," but, "they." The reference is first to the body, but the day is coming when our lights will be gathered into one and in the Kingdom we shall shine forth as the noonday and then all men shall see the Lord.

Our relationship to the brethren. Ephesians 4:25 says "We are members one of another." How very close this is, closer than being brothers. We are one body linked together. Every member of the body knows if another is ill. Are we neglecting one another in any sense? If we take the opportunity to help those with whom we come in contact we are fulfilling His commandment "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." (Gal.6:2) This union with the brethren is brought about by our Lord calling us His friends, the Light drawing us together and we becoming bound by the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:1 says "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves." How are we to realise when we are strong? It is hard to know just who the weak ones are but the Lord will show us because the weak ones need our help and prayers, and by this they become strong and we become stronger. We are told in 1 Thess.4: 18 to comfort one another and in Eph.4:32, to be kind one to another. We should esteem those who labour for us, praying for them, for we cannot pray too much for the brethren who are serving us. In the body of Christ nothing from outside can hurt us; nothing can touch our real life; only from within can that life be harmed. The "old man" is our enemy, for, paradoxical as it may seem, that which is dead may come to life again. The body of Christ must be holy, for without holiness no man can see the Lord. Have you seen the Lord? Can you recognize Him? If so, you are holy. "Be ye holy, as I am holy." Holiness must be a habit, and this is not an easy habit to attain; but it is something we can practice in our daily lives and it will then become a part of ourselves. Prayer is essential to the attaining of holiness, and therefore let us pray without ceasing, lifting up our hearts to Him morning, noon and night.

Our relationship to God. There are many figures in which our relationship to God is shown in the Bible. We think of Him as our Father and we His children, or He our shepherd and we His sheep, but these show more His relationship to us. The particular relationship we are dealing with now is shown in l. Cor.3: 16. "Ye are the temple of God." Psalm 132: 14 says "This is My rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." He has called us out of the world to become the Temple in which He will abide forever. How glorious is the thought that when the Temple of God is complete we shall be stones in that Temple. We were in His heart before the foundation of the world and His Name is to be glorified in us.

In the Temple there was an Ark containing the Golden pot of Manna, representing Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, the Manna on which we feed continually. The Rod that budded is there also. Are there buds coming forth from us, promising fruit to the glory of God? The Ark also contained the Tables of the Law, written on stones representing the Law of God written in our hearts, and it is because we are in the Ark, Jesus Christ, that we can keep the law.

In our daily walk and conversation let us then strive to bear in mind these relationships which are so vital to our Christian life, and live as becomes friends of Christ, lights in the world, members one of another and stones of that Temple in which God will rest for ever.