belief, trust, obedience and love

All of these are intrinsically tied to one another in a relational way. Not dictatorially or demandingly. In fact, they build on one another and are wound together so tightly that the idea and concept of love in marriage is clearly modeled.

Believing that the one would only think and want the best for the other allows for the trust of the other that whatever the one says and thinks about the other is in the best interest of the other. Because of the belief and trust of the other, anything that the one would ask of the other would be in the best interest of the other and therefore easily and willingly obeyed. This willing obedience by the other is not demanded or dictated by the one, but is offered as a proof of the trust and belief by the other in the one. When the level of belief, trust and obedience is reciprocal in both parties, the free flow of love is is complete. One for the other and the other for one. A perfect union. This is the covenant made by our God and Father to all of humanity.

That sounds great and so simplistic, but we know that is not. The examples of that perfect relationship are difficult to find (I say impossible) in a humanity that does not know God. God is love. The first relationship (Adam and Eve) violated the base concept of believing that The One (God) only thought and wanted the best for them. This set the tone for damaged and imperfect relationships that continues to this day. Believing that anyone thinks and wants the best for the other is hard. Evidence shows that it is not nearly so prevalent as humanity would like. In fact, the concept has been so misused and misrepresented that humanity starts with suspicion rather than belief. The damage is so deep that even inside families, the thought that anyone in the family thinks and wants the best for the others in the family, or the family itself, is doubted. Humanity needs an example, proof that that kind of relationship is possible. Here is where the rubber meets the road, God, in His great and holy love, created humanity to be loved by Him. He thinks and wants the best for His creation. In order to dispel all doubt and to exemplify the lengths He will go to prove that love, He sent His very own Son to represent and testify of that love. That if the creation would just take a chance and believe that what The Son says is true, then the relationship it once had would be restored. The Son, Who believes that The Father thinks and wants the best for Him, trusts and obeys The Father to do that work. It is a sacrificial work. A work that puts the value of the restored relationship between God and creation higher than the value of any one person, even The Son. The Son, believing in the Father’s desire for The Son to be the best, trusts and obeys the process and receives the best of both worlds. He is crowned King of Heaven and all creation. The Son Who dies by choice, in love for the Father and for the creation, becomes the very head of that creation.

All that to say.....Believe that there is a God Who created you and loves you. Trust that The One Who created you did so on purpose, thinking and wanting the very best for you. Evidence shows that we are not living in that “best”. Our lives are broken, our marriages are broken, our families are broken and our societies are broken. We cannot and have not fixed it since the beginning of time. We need a Savior! Let that belief and trust move you into a place to listen to and obey His loving words. Receive the love of The Father and The Son. Receive a renewed heart and Holy Spirit in the restored relationship provided by the sacrifice of Christ. You can do this....in fact, it is already done. Just believe and start the ball rolling :)