connect to people

 

There are many different ways to connect.  Today I want to challenge us to think about the ways we choose to connect with the people around us each day.  Connections ought to be strong, or communication that is.  And there are many ways to connect with others.

Let’s take a little trip.  Depending on how old you are there has been lots of change in technology.  Take for instance the internet and how we connect there.  Do you remember the dial up connection?  Your computer would literally have to call a number and hear those funny tones, like a fax machine machine, and connect to the internet.  It was very slow.

Now there are much faster ways to connect and to stay connected much longer, like all the time.  We even stream movies and content that is huge, and that old dial up connection couldn’t hardly play a short and grainy video.

Connections mean a lot.  Again, how do we connect to people?  There are many ways to connect and many reasons to connect.

Colossians 3:12-14  NLT

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Be like Jesus.  We were actually made to do or to become just that, like Jesus.  As we connect with people do so like he does.  Clothe yourself with what we know God does.  Mercy and kindness.  Forgiving people and overlooking faults.  Clothe yourself with love.

Love will hold us longer than anything else.  That is a great way to connect and stay connected.

Proverbs 19:20  NLT

Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.

Listen.  Often this is something that we miss.  We talk and talk.  We share our opinion with conviction and with no plan to listen to the people we are talking to.  Listen and take the advise offered, and then choose to grow from that advise.

Wisdom comes through growing in the connections we may to others.  Especially when those connections are spiritual and guided by God’s truth.

Philippians 2:3  NIV

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

That one is powerful.  I love that verse.  Share it often.  But this translation takes it to another and maybe a stronger level especially in the last piece of the verse.

Choose to value others.  One great way to connect and stay connected to people is to let them know that you value them.  Treat others with value.

We connect with our voices.  We connect with our presence in the room.  We connect through letters, email, text messages and so many other ways.  

The point is connect to others and do this in such a way that you make a difference pointed people to who really matters.  Connect with people so you can help connect them to God.