01 | Love transforms our relationships

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-7, 1 John 4:7-12

God’s conversation in Genesis 1:26 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness’ introduces the concept of Imago Dei – the image of God. This establishes the unchanging truth of who we are, and how we are to be with one another and with God. God’s pursuit of a relationship with us begins here, progresses throughout scripture, and culminates on the cross and with the resurrected Christ, birthing an eternal relationship through the Holy Spirit. We also see God’s desire for us to be in wholesome, caring relationships with one another and with creation. We’re given beautiful guidelines and metaphors for how we are to be together: salt and light, living stones, members of one household, a holy nation, one body, many parts…

Imago Dei inspired relationships are characterised by relentless love ‘as he loved us'; for in others, we see God and ourselves. These relationships are critical for the transformation that we hope for and that the world is groaning for; the very essence of why we are a movement of believers pursuing fullness of life for all. When we love as He has loved us, then pursuit of justice for all becomes our default.

Relationships are a tool to partner with God in reconciling the world to himself, making the love of Christ tangible and helping one another encounter God. In my many visits to communities, I have been in awe seeing people experience the good news through the power of love that God has placed in us. I remember with deep emotions an orphaned girl talking about the benefits of a project run by the church that was partnering with a Tearfund partner. She ended her sharing by saying, ‘My siblings and I have seen God!’.

Watch a conversation with Mary Mbuki Gaitho

Reflect

• 1 Corinthians 13 is often used in wedding ceremonies, for its compelling vision of relationships built on love. But the vision of 1 Corinthians 13 goes beyond the context of marriage, or behavioural aspirations. How do these verses help us see the Imago Dei in others? How does Jesus exemplify the love that 1 Corinthians 13 talks about?
• ‘Poverty is the result of relationships that do not work, that are not just, that are not for life, that are not harmonious or enjoyable. Poverty is the absence of shalom in all its meanings.’ (Bryan Myers, Walking with the Poor). How do you think our broken relationships with others leads to the poverty we see in the world today?
• What hinders us from forming and strengthening relationships that help people ‘see’ and ‘touch’ God? What helps us form these God-revealing relationships?
  What one thing can you do in the next few weeks to build relationships with people not necessarily in your circle, those that you would normally not interact with?