Jesus is admired by many from a distance. However, a disciple of Jesus Christ is taught to model his life after the Master. This entails discovering how Jesus freely extended forgiveness, spoke the truth with grace, loved others, and provided selfless service. Our faith is put to the test in our relationships. Talking about love is simple, but putting it into reality when we are hurt, disappointed, or misunderstood is much more difficult.
Allowing the gospel to disrupt our impulses is a necessary part of being a disciple of Christ. It challenges us to put aside our pride and strive for faithfulness in marriage. We learn tolerance, integrity, and loyalty from friendships. It encourages us to extend forgiveness as we have received it throughout difficult times. As a pastor, I’ve seen that modest acts of humility and private discussions frequently demonstrate spiritual development more than public worship.
Broken individuals should not be avoided, as Jesus did not. He approached relationships with compassion and honesty united. It is our duty as His disciples to follow suit. To be a disciple of Christ means speaking the truth even when it seems safer to remain silent, seeking reconciliation when leaving feels easier, and choosing love when resentment feels justified.
The good news is that God does not abandon us to solve this problem on our own. As we surrender our relationships to Him, the Holy Spirit gradually develops Christlike qualities in us. Obedience starts with simple, everyday decisions to follow Jesus where we live and love, but growth takes time.
We encourage you to check out our free Biblical Life Skill Guides if you want to deepen your faith and relationships. These resources, available in PDF and audio formats, are intended to help you live out your faith in a clear and wise manner.
The Relationships guide directly supports the principles of this essay and provides helpful, Scripture-based advice for honoring Christ in every relationship. We highly encourage you to spend time with it.