John 5:31-47, 1 Peter 2:9-17, Song of Solomon 2, Jeremiah 47-48

Recall:
John 5:39-40 "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life."

1 Peter 2:16-17 "As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor."

Reflect:
The passage from John is interesting. Of course, in the context of the story, Jesus is speaking to the Jewish leaders. But I think it applies to us as well. We get obsessed with the words and neglect the relationship. The "words" could be the Bible or tradition or the ins and outs of the organization, and we neglect the relationship. Life, abundant eternal life, comes out of the relationship. Our relationship with Jesus, our relationships with one another. Peter got it. He encourages his readers to employ their freedom for good purposes, to honor everyone, to love the family of believers.

Respond:

Relationship--that is the key, making space for my relationship with God to develop, developing relationships with others.