Relational God ... Relational Beings

Taken from The Relational Soul - We are relational beings because we are created in the image of a relational God. By definition the Christian God exists in relationship as Father, Son, and Spirit. While existing as three distinct Persons they share one divine essence that is described as love (1 John 4:8). God can be love only if God exists as community. The pure love they have for each other is unconditionally giving in its character. The Father gives Himself for the Son and the Son gives Himself for the Father.The gift of themselves for the other is personified in the Spirit. And not only do they give unconditionally; they receive each other in the same manner. That is the nature of agape. It is radical giving and receiving. It is perfect communion and union. It is truly beautiful and good.We were created with this relational likeness and long for relational connection because God exists in a relationship of love. God designed us to enjoy giving and receiving. God designed us to be FOR another. God designed us to receive FROM another. This is what it means to be a relational being. Because we bear God’s relational likeness we could communion with God. We also had the capability of connecting with each other in mutually self-flourishing ways.What profoundly demonstrates our relational design as human beings? See the post next Tuesday!Taken from The Relational Soul by Richard Plass and James Cofield. Copyright (c) 2014 by Richard Plass and James Cofield. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL  60515-1426. www.ivpress.com