Have you ever just felt alone in life

Have you ever just felt alone in life? Maybe even in a room full of people? Have you felt like nobody really cared about you?

It sometimes seems easier to just become a loner or not to try to develop relationships with others. But there is a problem with that idea. People living in isolation: Lose perspective on life, develop a fear of intimacy, become selfish, and the have poor health

Why is this? Because God did not make us to live life alone. He created us for relationship.

“The development of meaningful relationships where every member carries a significant sense of belonging is central to what it means to be the church. This is a God-ordained gathering of people that is so strong that even “the gates of hell will not overcome it. ”

Community is powerful. Being unified means having the ability to dream big and succeed together for God’s Kingdom. But what happens when community hurts? (we are still human) Developing Community is hard, it involves risk, it involves allowing your self to become venerable to others.

There is an old saying, “Forgive and Forget. ” There is another old saying, “easier said than done. ” All of us are naturally selfish and prideful.

That is who we are. That doesn’t make it right. It means we have to learn to overcome it. The sad truth is people are going to hurt us and we are going to get hurt by people. Reality is someone is going to accidentally or on purpose hurt your feelings.

So how do we develop these LOVING RELATIONSHIPS?

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self–control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

1. To develop loving relationships we must apply Patience

1 Tim 1: 16 But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. NLT

Patience is the ability to take a great deal of punishment: without losing our temper, without becoming irritated angry, or without taking retribution.

In short wee need to use of selfcontrol.

2. To develop loving relationship we must apply Kindness

Kindness is the state of being that includes the attributes of loving affection, sympathy, friendliness, patience, pleasantness, gentleness, and goodness.

Kindness is a quality shown in the way a person speaks and acts. It is more like a decision than emotional feeling and act.

Prov 25: 21 -23 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. 23 As a north wind brings rain, so a sly tongue brings angry looks.

3. To develop loving relationships we must apply Gentleness.

- be sensitive to others (not Contrary to Gods word)

Col 3: 13 You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. NLT

None of us deserve the forgiveness that God gives us each day. But over and over he forgives us.

Forgiveness is me giving up the right to hurt you for hurting me. (Anonymous quote)

If we are going to be a body involved in our community, we must develop Loving Relationship. Love thy neighbor as thy self.