Being responsive keeps things alive
Luke 17:15–19 (The Message)
One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough - and he was a Samaritan. Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?" Then he said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you."
We are looking at responsibility, our "ability to respond correctly".
Being responsive is vital for all of the relationships in our life if we want them to be all that they were designed to be, especially our relationship with God. He wants a responsive relationship with us. It was never meant to be a quiet, one-way road but rather a daily interwoven relationship, with us responding to Him and Him responding back – that's Christianity.
Other relationships in our world need us to remain responsive too. For example, as a pastor I deal with an element of marital breakdown. The sad thing is many marriages break down simply because one or both parties involved stop responding with "due response". Every healthy marriage starts with what resembles a picture of 'volcanic' response: a man and a woman stand at the front of a church, like Lady Guinevere and Prince Charming, with no shortage of desire or response taking place! At the reception that follows the atmosphere is charged with the thought of responses yet to come (God designed it that way). The day is filled with excitement, expectation and joy-filled responses by both parties. Sadly, for many, if you were to press fast forward to about ten years down the road, you get the picture of a man behind his newspaper at the kitchen table giving automated responses to his wife, who is desperately wanting back the response and attention from that 'responsive stallion' she once knew. Instead she hears the automated statements from behind a paper - "that's good, dear", "sounds nice, dear" - and the vibrancy of the marriage has begun to fade.
Good news! If he was to suddenly realise what had happened and remember what he once had - and the promises that were made, and dreams they started their journey with - and that morning, with fresh revelation, he walked past the paper, spun her around, looked her in the eyes and sang to her their favourite love song, that marriage would begin to come alive again, instantly! Remember, all we added back into it was this thing called response!
When we respond correctly things come alive and stay alive, and greater things are attracted to our lives. This principle covers every relationship we face on our journey of life. It is relevant to our children, family and friendships. Make sure you remain responsive and watch how things stay fresh and vibrant.
God bless, have a great day (men, go sing to your wife).
Andy
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