By Joseph Perry

Are you going through the motions in your relationship?

Going through the motions does not help any relationship; it only stagnates it even more.

This is an important question that needs to be asked of every person, because there are times we do in fact just go through the motions in our relationship with the Lord.

We go through it with those with whom we are in close relationship. When people go through the motions, they are just doing it to be doing it without any meaning. Some people have been doing it so long they don’t even realize that they have moved into that place.

John talks about this extensively, and he sees the church at Ephesus losing its first love. They had lost the desire to be close to God.

They were not doing the things that they once did when they first gave their life to the Lord.

It’s also reminds me of a relationship people have with their spouse or their significant other. They start out close. They start out connected in ways that couples do when they are in love; however, over a period of time, they start drifting away from that closeness. They no longer feel the same way, and they no longer do what they used to do to keep the relationship strong.

Now, they are just doing it for the kids. Now, they are just doing it to keep a certain image in the public eye. Now, they are just tolerating each other. They realize that they are just going through the motions. John tells them in so many words, to get it together.

Getting it together requires you to:

• Grab hold of the precepts. You need the word of God so you can get stronger. The more you read His word, the more you want to get closer.
• Go into deep prayer. Communication will always be the key in any relationship. You have to open up and talk. Sometimes you have to have the hard talks to work a lot of situations out that have not been discussed.
• Give some time to Godly people. It’s important that we have Godly people in our lives. Godly people can strengthen our relationship as they encourage us to keep going. Also, we can hear how others have gotten through the tough times, as they know every relationship experiences tough times.

You can fall in love again. You don’t have to just go through the motions the rest of your days with your significant other. You don’t have to go through the motions with God. Just talk to Him more. Tell Him that you love Him. Show up in His presence to say hello.

Enjoy your Valentine’s Day.

 

The Rev. Dr. Joseph A. Perry is pastor of St. Mark AME Zion Church. Contact him at josephp134@gmail.com.