"You are our glory and joy." "In the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming."

When God brings us to a fuller place in Christ we always "leave" those people who have not moved along with us. This does not mean we cease honoring our necessary relationships on the earth. The individual who thinks he is spiritual and neglects family relationships in favor of serving God (as he supposes) will discover that God is not with him as much as he imagines. There may be a time to forsake family and friends, but only Jesus Himself can lead us in such an extreme move.

The truly strong in Christ always stand ready to assist the weaker.

Nevertheless, as we move ahead in Christ, God places us in fellowship with those of like calling and attainment. It is among the people of similar consecration to Jesus that we find our most loving, joyous, and peaceful relationships.

Again, we are not suggesting that the man or woman who has become disgusted with his or her mate's seeming lack of spirituality should leave his or her partner and join someone "more spiritual." This sort of sin happens many times among believers and it is not of God. It absolutely is not of God. It may seem right, and we may have many supernatural "signs" and "fleeces" that tell us we are to leave our wife or husband and marry someone more "spiritual." But this is not of God. It is not of God!

He or she who makes such a move will leave a trail of betrayed loved ones. No matter how it appears that God is blessing the new union, even seeming to give gifts of ministry and opportunities for ministry, it is not of God. The end will be more bitter than death itself.

We must, as God leads, put all of our relationships "on the altar" so that each relationship can be re-created in Christ. If we cling to our life we surely will lose it. If we give back to God what is most precious of all, which is our relationships, we will receive for eternity that which God knows to be most joyous for us. God will withhold no good thing from him or her who walks uprightly before Him.

We must count ourselves as having died with Christ on the cross so that Christ may raise us up into true, eternal relationships. If we cling to our natural relationships we lose all. If we trust all to God we receive back all that is of eternal value to us.

We must "let go and let God."

The relationships that will survive for eternity are those established by and in Christ as we are fitted into our place in the Body of Christ.

To be continued.