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Read: Romans 2:28
SCRIPTURE:“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV
As we continue in our series for this week, “Radical Change”, we have talked about the radical change that God has made in all areas of our lives. But tonight, we will focus on how God works in our lives when we are in the season of being in a relationship. Also, how God changes our perspective on how we should treat our brothers and sisters in Christ, and knowing our right season. As we go through God’s word tonight, we hope and pray that you might be enlightened in His promises and have a grasp on what His purpose really is for us. We’ll know how radical the change really God makes when we put Him first and delight in Him, and love Him above others.
God works all things together for good—both His good and our good. As God is glorified, His people
benefit. Those who love God can trust His goodness, His power, and His will to work out all things for our good. We journey together with Him. When we receive and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we change the way we think, the way we talk, and the way we act. In other words, we change the way we live and our perspective towards things for we are no longer slaves to sin, but God, through Christ renewed us and restored us for His glory.
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT
You are changed, radically. From a sinner to saved, from a prisoner to free. Those who are “called” are those the Holy Spirit convinces and enables to receive Christ. Such people have a new perspective, and a new mindset on life. Thus, when you are praying for a relationship, you start to set standards for yourself on what God wants and wills for you.
So now, we will share with you some key points on how God has changed our way of life and what we see in a relationship in coming to our next season. Though maybe it’s not applicable to you right now, or maybe it is, it could help you on preparing for a change of season in God’s perfect time.
1. God changed our perspective on our role as a man and a woman
18 The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18 NIVMen initiate, women respond. Before we enter in a relationship, we should have a clear picture on what is our role as a man and as a woman. For men, it is our responsibility to lead, for we are assigned the role of leadership. This is true in the church and in the family. This is not a signal of male superiority or of the greater importance of men.
It is simply “God’s design and assignment” of equally valuable roles among spiritually equal beings. As men, we should be the ones who initiate the pursuit on the woman. We lay our intentions clearly so as to avoid confusion.
For women, it is your God-given role to respond. But whatever the circumstances, her role is as
responder, not initiator. Single women need to learn what it is to let a man assume spiritual leadership
in the relationship — and to respond to that leadership, so that we can show that we area a suitable
helper to them. Ultimately, this means learning to trust God’s goodness and sovereignty.
The Lord is sovereign, He will cause something to work out for He knows what is best for each of us, and all of us must learn to trust Him — especially about things that are really important to us.
2. God changed our view about purity in a relationship
The term purity is often used today in relation to sexuality. Sexual purity is freedom from immorality or perversion. Purity is closely related to holiness, and those who walk in holiness will keep themselves sexually pure: abstinent before marriage and monogamous within marriage. God helped us to preserve purity as we walk in faith with Him. That’s why we should protect each other and set clear boundaries even before we will get into a relationship. This applies as well on how we generally treat our brothers and sisters in Christ. That is preserving the intimacy intended only in the context of marriage.When we have been born again through faith in Jesus, we desire to live in purity. God desires that we
live purely in all our dealings with others. Purity should define our thought life, our words, and our
actions. Though we may have a sinful past, it was made better for good for we now have loved God
above all and live according to His will and purpose for us.
3. God changed our perspective on marriage
As you move into the stage of life in which you begin to seriously consider marriage generally or aparticular relationship, your first step should be to soberly reflect, before God, on your own spiritual
walk and maturity in Christ. If you aspire to be a godly husband or wife someday, what have you done and what are you doing to prepare for that ministry?
Before you enter in a relationship, you must at place in your life at which you are ready and able to
marry. The Bible has a high view of marriage. It is a to be a lifetime plan, not a convenience that can be disposed of in a lawyer’s office. If you are truly serious in your relationship then a wedding ceremony must be part of your plans. When you change your way of life through Christ, you will see the importance of marriage and how God should be the center of it. For being married is not just signing a piece of paper, it is a lifelong commitment made with God by the husband and wife.
Marriage is a covenant from the Lord. It is not the love that sustains the covenant but its is the covenant that sustains the love. And because from being individuals united through God, you now have the privilege to be working in the ministry together. So, marriage as well is missional.
We grow closer to Him because of the change He has made to us. The promise that God works all things together for good does not mean that all things, taken by themselves, are good. Some things and events are decidedly bad. But God is able to work them together for good. He sees the big picture; He has a master plan. As Christians, we need to acknowledge that He is in control of our lives. That all things will work together for good, even though it is rough, or we are stormed. But the Almighty God, through faith, will give us peace amidst that situation or struggle. So if you’re feeling distressed because you have a desire to get married but it’s not happening now, don’t lose heart. Know your season. Strengthen your faith in God through the hearing of the good news of Christ. And in His perfect time, God will work all things together for the good of those who love Him. Our decision to align our will with God’s and to always trust Him will be rewarded.
Photo by: Melody Grace Gerodias
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