GOD’S PLANS unfold through relationships.

He told Abraham to leave his land, his kindred and his father’s house for the land that he would show him.

God called him into a relationship to bless him. (Genesis 12:1) Similarly, God has saved you to bless you.

GOD will put you in a relationship to show you the future. He will share secrets with those who fear him.

Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do?

For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is righteous and just, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him. (Genesis 18:17 and 19)

‘When God wants to bless you, he puts you in a relationship.’

GOD will put you in a relationship to favour you. (Psalm 5:12)

When his brothers sold him into slavery, Joseph found favour with his master, Potiphar, who put him in charge of his household. (Genesis 37:18-36)

So your relationship with men will be an expression of your relationship with God. When you find favour with God, you'll find favour with men. (Psalm 5:2)

GOD will put you in a relationship to make you align with His will, and when you're obedient, he will connect you with people for your future.

Joseph understood the necessity of relationships, so when Potiphar’s wife came unto him, he stood his ground and said:

He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this great evil and sin against God [and your husband]?” (Genesis 39:9)

He knew that if the enemy could have his relationships, he would have his goods.

ANYTIME you are tempted, know that the enemy is after your relationships.

He wants to put you in the shallow end and make you shallow-minded; he wants to distract you, so you cannot lay hold of the future that God has for you.

Jesus saw the enemy’s plans against Peter, so he warned him that the Devil had planned to sift him, but he had prayed for him. (Luke 22:31-55)

GOD will put you in a relationship to extend his grace to you and through you.

When the two Hebrew spies walked into Rahab’s inn, she knew they were strangers, so she hid them on her roof.

Her fears were later confirmed when the king’s soldiers came looking for them, so she told the soldiers that they had left at dusk.

Rahab protected them, and they, in return, extended grace to her and her family—God’s grace found her.

Similarly, God extended his grace to the Widow of Sarepta when she fed Elijah. (1 Kings 17:7-16)

So God can make all grace abound to you. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

GOD will put you in a relationship to safeguard your future.

At a point, God saw that the wickedness (depravity) of man was great on the earth, and that every imagination or intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

But Noah found favour and grace before Him, so God told him to build an ark to safeguard his future. (Genesis 6)

God will share his secrets with those who fear him. He will let them know his covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning. (Psalm 25:14)

YOUR RELATIONSHIPS will tell you who is genuine.

When Jesus told the people that he was the bread of life, they felt he was beside himself, so many left and stopped following him.

Then, he turned to the twelve and asked if they wanted to leave too.

However, Peter said, Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope].

We have believed and confidently trusted, and [even more] we have come to know [by personal observation and experience] that You are the Holy One of God [the Christ, the Son of the living God]. (John 6:60-71)

Bringing it Together

ENOCH walked with God, and he was not because God took him. (Genesis 5:24)

Moses could not express God until he encountered Him at the burning bush. (Exodus 3)

The missing piece of your life would only be found in a relationship with Him.

Prayer for the week: God, cause me to know that you are the Holy One of God.