Down Gilead Lane, Season 12 | Episode 5

RESPECT THE FRENCH TOAST

Season Description

Since we first heard from the Morrison family on a quiet road in a small town, we’ve come a long way. Kids have grown up, graduated, and moved away from home. New members have joined the family. This season , find out who’s behind Peace of Heaven, how Monica Richter can get herself out of the mess she’s in, and what significant life choices are made. Find out what happens when the pieces of the puzzle ultimately fall into place in Coleraine.

Today’s Story

The world shows falling in love to be some magical thing to do that comes easily and stays forever. However, God’s perspective of love relationships is a little different as could be seen in this episode. The godly viewpoint, as shown by Caleb and Carrie, looked a little different than that of the self-seeking way that was seen between Randy and Tiffany.

How About You?
Do you ever struggle with knowing how to have a godly relationship with someone of a different gender?

Check This Out…
God really cares about relationships. Within the first two chapters of the Bible, God shows us that his intent after making the first man, Adam, was not to have him be alone. God made Eve to be his helper and friend (Gen. 2:22). Throughout the rest of the Bible, we see God continue to push the idea of being in relationship with one another. The Israelites traveled together, and even Jesus wasn’t born alone, but instead was given a family to care for and to care for him. The ultimate relationship shown in the Bible weaves its way throughout the entire narrative: It’s the love relationship between Jesus and his bride, the church.

This is the marriage and pinnacle relationship we are to look at as our example when we are considering how to do relationship with one another. Throughout the Bible, we see God passionately pursuing Israel, even when they continued to run away again and again (Ez. 6:9). When Jesus was born, we see him continue this pursuit of his people with compassion, tenderness, and even rebuke at times (Matt. 23:27).

In Ephesians 5, Paul writes down specific instructions for husbands and wives and how they are to do this thing called marriage. It is no surprise to see that Paul sites the love relationship between Christ and his church when explaining how wives and husbands are to love one another.

Ephesians 5:22 says, Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. The chapter continues, talking to husbands saying, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

All of this is to say that if we are married or unmarried, dating or not even considering it, we are to look to Christ and his love for his people in knowing how to relate to others. We are to love unconditionally (John 15:12), love our neighbors as we love ourselves, (Lev. 19:18) and we are to be self-sacrificing like the Ultimate Sacrifice was when he laid down his life for his sheep. (John 10:11,)

To love another is not easy, and sometimes it’s hard to make that love stay. But loving with a heart like Christ will give us a love that will truly last.