A True Love Relationship

Through the years, I have watched other couples. It seemed like so many relationships were forced. It was like the two people didn’t even like each other, but they stayed together because they figured the other person could advance their popularity. Then I saw other couples where it was as if God had placed them together (I believe He did) and no one could pull them apart. That is what I found when I met my wife.
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As I reflect on relationships, it seems that so many of them are based on personal advancement. Gals strive to look just right so that they can get the most popular guy, and guys strive to be popular so they can get the best looking girl and then become even more popular. It is as if relationships become nothing more than stepping stones in a cosmic popularity contest.
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When I met Crystal, it wasn’t about how popular she could make me. It was about two people who fell in love and wanted to spend the rest of their lives together no matter what anyone else thought.
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What about your relationship with God? Which kind of relationship is that? Do you simply call yourself a Christian because it is popular, or do you really want to live your life in a close relationship to Him? Would you be a Christian, no matter what anyone around you thought?
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Relationships that are based on popularity so often become performance driven. In other words, they are based on what the other person in the relationship can do for you. Once the other person does not measure up to your expectations, or you to theirs, the relationship starts to fall apart.
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True love is much different. There is a lifelong commitment regardless of performance. We had lunch with such a couple recently. She suffered from a stoke and was not the woman she used to be, but her faithful husband was right there with her day by day, showing his true love.
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I fear too many Christians approach their relationship with God on a performance basis. If they pray and God does not give them what they want, they draw away from Him. Further many think that if they do not do everything perfectly, that God will abandon them. They have missed the truth of Romans 5:20, Romans 5:20b, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” We should never use that as an excuse to sin, but rather to remind us of 1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
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Once we trust Christ, we have a loving dedicated relationship with God that will last forever. We do not have to worry about Him divorcing us simply because of our sin. At the same time, once we see that love, we should return it. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” (Matthew 22:37) “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2)
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There will be performance of loving deeds and obedience in a true love relationship, but what a contrast they are to a performance driven relationship that simply does things for ones own benefit. No wonder those who have a true love relationship with God are more interested in His glory than their own.