6 Keys To Godly Relationships; Key #1 Obey Christ Series

1st Key is to obey Christ

There were four boys who were young and bursting with energy especially in the church. But the sermon their pastor preached on turning the other cheek got their attention. The minister stressed that no matter what others do to us; we should never try to get even with them. That evening the youngest boy came to his mother crying. In between sobs, he told his mother that he had kicked one of his brothers, who in return had kicked him back. “I’m sorry that hurt you,” said the mother. “But you shouldn’t go around kicking people.” The tearful child replied, “But the preacher said that he wasn’t suppose to kick me back.” Today we are talking about relationships. Mainly how to maintain our relationship with God and how it affects others. For you see, how we treat others depicts our relationship with God. If we are kicking others, hum… but if we are loving those who are kicking us, then hummmm!

I. Keep your cup full. (9-11) 9“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

I once heard that you know what is in the cup by what spills out when you knock it over. What spills out when people knock you over? (Show cup) Anger, resentment, sarcasm, built up frustration? To keep your cup full we need to know some things.

A. Where is our source? (9)

From where do we obtain our strength? We are not self-sustaining beings. We depend on things. We depend on our environment. We need food. Our paycheck, family, etc. We are needy people! So why should it be any different for our spiritual needs? It’s not! Our source is God. We need God! Our problems can be narrowed down to one problem, our relationship with God. Even with Jesus it started with the Father. “Just as the Father has loved Me” (NASB) If it starts with the Father for Jesus, who should we turn to?

How many of you feel worn out? We have depended on ourselves, or others to fill our cup. The only thing that lasts is God’s word. Everything else is fluff. It doesn’t last. Everything else is a distraction that causes us to focus on keeping our cups filled. In the process of keeping our cup filled, we use up all of our energy!

In the 23rd Psalm David experienced God filling his cup when he said, “My cup runs over.” Notice that he was praising God in the midst of being hunted down by Saul. Jesus always called and still calls today to those who are weak. To those who have labored are tired, and who realize that they need help in this life. This is what He said, 28“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”(Mt. 11)

Remember, a cup doesn’t fill itself. Only the one who uses it fills it. So it is with God. Don’t fill yourself with fluff, but allow God to fill you with what He wants for you! To keep your cup full, you need to know the source!

B. What should go in the cup? abide in My love. 10“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (9b-10)

Have you ever wondered what God wants? That is a unique perspective. What does God want? We know what we want, or at least we think we do. But what does He want? What does He want to place in our cup? We must never lose focus on the FACT that God always wants what is best for us and He only gives us His best. So what is God’s best? With what does God want to fill our cups? The obvious answer is God’s love. But how do or should we obtain God’s love? The answer is in this verse. You can’t earn it. You don’t deserve it. You can only “abide” in it. Through His grace our cups can be filled through simply abiding. So how do we abide? “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in My love”. God’s way is simple. Keep His commandments. When we keep His commandments, we are not just hearers of the word, but now we are doers. (James) When we keep His commandments, we are not conformed to the world, but we are transformed! And ultimately our cups are filled.