Our fifth child, Jean-Luc is a goal-setting, “get it done NOW” kind of guy. Recognizing that this often hurts relationships, he decided to focus more on building relationships. A friend of our family who seems to have a gift in relationships is Jamie Johnson. So Jean-Luc asked him how to build better relationships. Jamie encouraged Jean-Luc to focus on communication by saying this: Communication is the relationship!
Apparently, God sees communication and relationships as closely related also. Look at these two verses in John, chapter 1.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And verse 14: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Somehow I get the idea that God wants to communicate with us. This “word” thing, the ability to develop and use language is a characteristic that separates man from animals and identifies us with God.
As God spoke in Gen 1, his words were effective, creative words. His words brought order into chaos, light into darkness, life into dust. His words gave purpose and direction as he commanded the man and woman, “Reproduce, fill the earth, cultivate the garden, name the animals.”
God’s word was the foundation of life.
Jesus reinforced that by saying that we live by the word of God.
Jesus said that hearing and doing his words is like
building your house on a firm foundation.
When we do God’s word, His words are both the foundation and the building material of our lives. His word brings substance to our relationship with him.
Communication is the relationship.
Our words do that for our children. Our words are the 2 x 4’s of the structure of our children’s lives. Our words [founded on God’s words] build what will be the unseen framework of our children’s lives.
Once you have a child, you have entered into a 20 year building project!
We need to get up everyday aware that we are involved in this task….even if you only drive in one nail….
We need to speak what God speaks because his word is creative.
The wrong words are destructive.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Therefore. . .
this becomes our talking emphasis, to talk God’s kind of talk to our children.
To communicate his heart, his plans, and when necessary, his discipline to them.
We agree with Jamie:
COMMUNICATION IS THE RELATIONSHIP! !
1 comment:
This is so encouraging. Like I have heard you say, "Rules without relationship leads to rebellion." The way to have a wonderful relationship with my children is to communicate with them, teaching them God's way. Teaching them that I love them and that God loves them. Thank you for this post!
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