Hamburg was, and is, a small town, about 2500 souls, in southeast Arkansas. Growing up in the 60’s, the nightlife consisted of hanging out at Sammie’s, like Sonic, without carhops, and the Sunset Drive-In Theater. We didn’t go to Sammie’s to eat a burger or the Sunset Drive-In to watch a movie. We went to be together. It was there that I learned about relationships with people other than my family. A person might ask, “What did you do?” Simply put, we talked, laughed, argued, and grew up. We did this every weekend during the school year and in the summers, it was every night except Sunday. For big-city kids, this might have been depressing but as I think about it…it was a Blessing. A key to having relationships is being together. Being together requires time. Having time is a choice.

Jesus gave us the framework for relationships in Matthew 22:37-39. Scripture tells us, the first & most important relationship is with God the Father. “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”  When we love the Father with “all of our heart” we are able to fulfill the next relationship command, “And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” BAM! This is very confrontational…loving unlovable people. Humanly, it’s not possible. What does this mean? Jesus not only told us, He lived it. The very people that tortured Him, spit on Him & mocked Him…the ones that tried Him and drove the nails in His hands & feet, He asked the Father from His Cross, “Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34. Jesus lived as we are to live, that “Every Soul Matters To God.”

Paul said it this way, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5. Do your words, actions & reactions reveal that you value all people? Jesus told us, “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.” Matthew 12:36. Ouch!

How do you see people? Only Jesus can give you the eyes to see Heavenly Value in people. When we see things as Jesus does, the things of this world really do “grow strangely dim.” Would you like to experience Joy? Joy is found in a relationship with Him. It’s His gift to you that surpasses all understanding.