Relating means building close relationships of mutual support and encouragement with other followers. Loving relationships are mirrors and reminders of God’s compassion and kindness, His strength and encouragement, His comfort and counsel. We need and are encouraged by such relationships. We cannot help but grow when we spend time together regularly with others who are growing followers, and we will never grow as much alone as we will together.
This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but he loved us and sent his son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us. I John 4.10-12 (NLT)
