If there's one universal theme that the Bible teaches all throughout, it's the theme of relationships. God, out of His love for us and a desire to build a relationship with us, created man and when man fell, God made a way to redeem us through the blood of His own Son so that we may continue in a relationship with our Creator.

As God loves and values relationships, He calls us to love and value relationships as well. John 13:34-35 tells us, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

So much of ministry and our belief are centralised on building the best church structures, the best doctrine, the best sector or the best careers and professions. God calls us first and foremost to pursue relationships beyond all else. We are first and foremost to pursue Jesus Christ and a relationship with Him no matter how tested and tried our pursuit of Him is. Secondly, we are called to pursue relationships and a community valuing each other just as God values all of us.

Church can often be a tough atmosphere because of all the differences we share, but in those differences God says we can be united. God calls us to unity, not uniformity. We should trust in Him as the perfecter of relationships. 1 John 4:12 says, "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

Many times, our relationships will be tested by circumstance and trials, but God promises us victory so that we can be free to work on relationships. Galatians 5:13 tells us, "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Doctrine is hard, church is hard and life is hard, but God gives us the grace to work things out together and not on our own.

Proverbs 17:17 further reminds us that, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

The true measure of faith is not whether we have the audacity to chase after bigger churches, more successful businesses, nicer cars and homes, but in our audacity to value relationships with one another just as Jesus values His relationship with each and every one of us.