They spent their time learning the apostles’ teaching, sharing, breaking bread, and praying together. The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and everyone felt great respect for God. All the believers were together and shared everything. They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide the money and give it to anyone who needed it. The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. (Acts 2:42-46)

How do your relationships reflect God?

In what areas do your relationships not honor God?

How are you growing existing relationships while developing new ones?

Relationships are messy. In general, we tend to gravitate toward the ones that most encourage us. If we like to have fun, we look for fun friends. If we like to have intellectual discussions, we look for intellectual friends. If we enjoy sports, we find friends who enjoy the same sports. We connect on commonalities. However, there will always be differences, too. No two people are alike. Differences will not doom a relationship; how we respond to the differences might.

Relationships are seasonal. People come and go because the purpose of specific relationships changes. Sometimes we mourn the transition and sometimes we spur the transition. Regardless of the circumstance, how we rely on God through it is paramount. We need to rely on God for all guidance and provision of relationships. If we’re to stick with a relationship we’d rather quit, we need to trust God’s direction. If God says ending a relationship is best, we need to do it in a way that honors him. If we’re to reprioritize our relationships, we need to let God do the rearranging. Relationships differ, but God doesn’t change. We can always rely on him to draw us deeper into relationship with him as we develop relationships with others.

What is God spurring you to do in response to today’s devotional? Be obedient. Trust his timing.