Can you Relate?

1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (MSG)

19-23 Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!   

All pictures belong and are edited by Lesli Allyn Blogs unless otherwise stated 

When you develop  a   friendship with someone you begin by finding somethings that you  both  have in  common.  But  what do you do when you discover that they indulge in behaviors  that don't line up with  Gods  will?  In that moment  it is  easy to become judgmental and view them in a harsh light. 

When you  find yourself in this situation I  encourage you to fight the  urge  to  treat them differently  based on their  sin.  Take  a  step back  to remember  who you  where before you grew  closer  to Christ.  You didn't have it  all  together and  to be honest we all have areas that we still presently  struggle with.

Try compassion use this  common ground  we all have  in our  imperfections  and  encourage them.    If you are  led to   continue in the friendship  this is your assignment so take it seriously. Pray that God  will help you to support your friend without    encouraging or indulging in their habits.  We all need a support system , someone to  pray with us and  over us.  

By extending the same  grace  God  has  extended to us we  bridge that gap and we create a safe place for them  to  see Christ through us.   Keep lifting up your  friend,  that family member or coworker until they  find  Christ for themselves and remain   obedient and patient to  what  God is leading you to  do in this situation.

Toxic Relationships: Knowing When to Walk Away

1 Corinthians 15:33 (GNT)  Do not be fooled. “Bad companions ruin good character.”

All pictures taken and edited by Lesli Allyn Blogs Unless otherwise stated

In  your lifetime  so  many  people  will  come in and out of your life  each   for a different  purpose; Every relationship  will teach you   something about yourself and that is  important.    You'll find in some instances you connect  quickly,   sometimes  it'll be  more   gradual  and then   in some cases there will be  people you'll  just clash  with  altogether.

What's important is what we take away from each relationship.  The lesson in  each instance is deciphering  who  add's to your life , pushes  you to be  a better person and  closer to  Christ vs. those who  constantly  subtract and  drain you.  Not  everyone is  meant to   go in the same  direction as  you  some relationships are toxic and  distract you from your purpose. So going into each relationship weather it's  a  friend  or a significant other  keep your eye's open don't gloss over issues don't hold on to someone based on familiarity.   When that season  is  over   leave it there and move forward.

Now I'm not saying you should  cut every  person off who you have a disagreement with.   What  I'm saying is that you  should    pray  for  discretion in  each relationship.   You need to  know what your purpose is  in the relationship as well.  Is there  advice or  wisdom that they can gain   from knowing you that will help them later down the road? As  believers  you may be the only  window into  Christ that they've  ever  experienced  so  cutting  someone  off  isn't always the answer.  In these instances   listen to the leading of the holy spirit pray and ask for  direction.

Let's talk about it:

Have you every  been in a  toxic relationship; How did you  know when it was time to let that relationship go?