1. What is the meaning of the word, relationship?
My AI companion put it in layers you actually live:
Position — How you stand to something. You are in relation to it. Like: "What is my relationship to sin? To money? To God?" That's why I titled that post "To be truly free from Sin and Death" — my relationship to sin changed from slave to pardoned.
Connection — What passes between. A real relationship is an exchange. Not just contact. Love, trust, time, truth goes back and forth. If nothing passes, it's not a relationship, it's just proximity.
Commitment — What holds when feeling fades. That's the "ship" in relationship. A ship holds cargo through storms.
Well put!
2. Can just understanding the meaning help us to be a better mate?
Well we can ask that question about anything. However why? Have not there been many self-help books on relationships and they keep coming and keep changing as if it's supposed to be a trial and error thing?
Does it make sense for it to be trial and error? No. Believe it or not, there is a handbook, dating back to the first century:
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 — If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels but do not have love, I have become a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal... Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
Sounds simple doesn't it? Apparently, not so simple, because if you think about it, don't these 8 verses tell us exactly what has been done wrong? Many of us have been doing just the opposite.
3. What is really going on behind the scenes?
What? No — it's more like WHO?
Ephesians 6:10-12 — Finally, go on acquiring power in the Lord and in the mightiness of his strength. Put on the complete suit of armor from God so that you may be able to stand firm against the crafty acts of the Devil; because we have a struggle, not against blood and flesh, but against the governments, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places.
Self-evident right? However easier said than done.
4. How can we just get up and turn things completely around?
Like anything, relationships have rules. When they are broken, or dishonored, they invite chaos, even if what is going on is just the appearance of something bad, because we are a spectacle to heaven and earth.
And I know first hand, that the appearance that something is going on can be just as damaging. Believe me I ignored how important the appearance of wrong doing can eventually lead to it, and end a relationship.
Note to ourselves, some of our spectators are fallen angels, wicked spirits. So be mindful. Von Bro'
---
WANT THE EXCLUSIVE? The full journal — "The Appearance Trap + My Eph 6 Armor Checklist + Psalm 91 prayer for a capable wife" is on Gumroad — link in profile. This blog is the preview, Gumroad is the deep dive.
