| Christ’s Relational MediationBy: Boyd Bailey |
| For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6 Beautifully, Jesus Christ is the mediator between us and our most important relationship, God. In our Creator’s perfect timing, Jesus Christ came to earth from the riches of heaven to experience the poverty of humanity’s sinfulness, so He might give Himself as a ransom for all people. Imagine the cross of Christ as a bridge between heaven and earth, God and mankind. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ became a mediator—go between, so now, all can come to God through total trust in Jesus Christ as the payment for their sins. The severed relationship with perfect love has been restored by perfect love—Christ’s enduring relational mediation. 因为在神与人类之间只有一位神和一位中保，就是人基督耶稣，他舍了自己作为所有人的赎价。现在已经在适当的时候见证了这一点。 1 提摩太 2:5-6 美妙的是，耶稣基督是我们与我们最重要的关系——上帝之间的中保。在我们的创造主完美的时间里，耶稣基督从天上的丰富降临到地上，体验了人类罪恶的贫穷，因此他可以将自己作为所有人的赎价。想象基督的十字架是天与地、神与人类之间的桥梁。耶稣基督的生、死和复活成为了中保——在两者之间穿行，所以现在，所有人都可以通过完全相信耶稣基督作为他们罪孽的赎价来到上帝面前。完美的爱——基督持久的关系中介，已经恢复了与完美爱断绝的关系。 Not only does Christ’s mediation bring relational wholeness with God, but also between the pinnacle of His creation, human beings. Relational wholeness between individuals is achievable when Jesus Christ is the relational focal point of…spouses, parents/children, siblings, friends, co-workers, students, even enemies. The best mediators are experienced, skilled and objective, so both parties totally trust their competence, character and conclusions. First, by faith, make Christ your mediator between yourself and God, and second, by faith make Christ mediator in your relationships. Healthy relationships recognize the necessity of Christ’s ongoing mediation, which provides a safe environment and a pathway for clear communication and mutual understanding. Not always in 100% agreement, but with generous love and respect toward the other. Christ’s relational mediation grows two people into an enduringly rich, real love…drawing closer to God and closer to each other. Not only does Christ’s mediation bring relational wholeness with God, but also between the pinnacle of His creation, human beings. Relational wholeness between individuals is achievable when Jesus Christ is the relational focal point of…spouses, parents/children, siblings, friends, co-workers, students, even enemies. The best mediators are experienced, skilled and objective, so both parties totally trust their competence, character and conclusions. First, by faith, make Christ your mediator between yourself and God, and second, by faith make Christ mediator in your relationships. Healthy relationships recognize the necessity of Christ’s ongoing mediation, which provides a safe environment and a pathway for clear communication and mutual understanding. Not always in 100% agreement, but with generous love and respect toward the other. Christ’s relational mediation grows two people into an enduringly rich, real love…drawing closer to God and closer to eah other. 基督的中保不仅带来了与上帝的关系完整性，而且也带来了他创造的顶峰——人类之间的关系。当耶稣基督是……配偶、父母/孩子、兄弟姐妹、朋友、同事、学生甚至敌人的关系焦点时，个人之间的关系完整性是可以实现的。最好的调解员经验丰富、技能娴熟且客观，因此双方完全相信他们的能力、性格和结论。首先，凭信心，让基督成为你与上帝之间的中保，其次，凭信心让基督成为你关系中的中保。健康的关系认识到基督持续调解的必要性，这为清晰的沟通和相互理解提供了一个安全的环境和途径。并不总是 100% 同意，而是对对方慷慨的爱和尊重。基督的关系调解使两个人成长为持久丰富、真正的爱……更接近上帝，彼此更接近。 “Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13:7, NLT). Henri Nouwen inspires and instructs on the idea of inviting Christ into the relational center: “Friendship requires a constant willingness to forgive each other for not being Christ and a willingness to ask Christ himself to be the true center. When Christ does not mediate a relationship, that relationship easily becomes demanding, manipulating, oppressive, an arena for many forms of rejection. An unmediated friendship cannot last long; you simply expect too much of the other and cannot offer the other the space he or she needs to grow. Friendship requires closeness, affection, support, and mutual encouragement, but also distance, space to grow, freedom to be different, and solitude. To nurture both aspects of a relationship, we must experience a deeper and more lasting affirmation than any human relationship can offer.” Take an audit of current relationships and an autopsy of past relationships. Collaborate and pray together for ways to keep Jesus in the relational center as your mediator, so you both look to Him for affirmation, security and identity as His beloved child. Relationships without faith in Jesus Christ at centerstage wistfully go through the motions, at best acting out in ways imagined as what the other wants or at worse complaining and blaming the other for relational manipulation or malfeasance. You know Jesus is mediating your relationship when love is your motivation, kind words permeate the conversation, forgiveness is freely given and you lead with empathy and comfort. A humble heart trusts Jesus to grow both of you into…His best version of you. “爱永不放弃，永不失去信心，永远充满希望，并且在任何情况下都持久”（哥林多前书 13:7，NLT）。 Henri Nouwen 启发并指导了邀请基督进入关系中心的想法： “友谊需要不断地愿意原谅彼此不是基督，并愿意要求基督自己成为真正的中心。当基督不调解关系时，这种关系很容易变得苛刻、操纵、压迫，成为许多拒绝形式的舞台。 无中介的友谊不能长久；你只是对对方期望过高，无法为对方提供成长所需的空间。友谊需要亲近、亲情、支持和相互鼓励，但也需要距离、成长的空间、与众不同的自由和孤独。为了培养关系的两个方面，我们必须体验到比任何人际关系都更深刻、更持久的肯定。” 对当前的关系进行审计，并对过去的关系进行尸检。合作并一起祈祷，寻求让耶稣作为你的中保保持在关系中心的方法，这样你们都期待他作为他心爱的孩子得到肯定、安全和身份认同。 在舞台中央，对耶稣基督没有信心的关系若有所思地走动，充其量只是按照对方想要的方式行事，或者更糟的是抱怨并指责对方操纵关系或渎职。当爱是你的动力时，你知道耶稣正在调解你的关系，善意的话语渗透到谈话中，宽恕是自由的，你带着同情和安慰来领导。一颗谦卑的心相信耶稣会让你们俩都成长为……他最好的你。 “He knew those who would be His one day, and He chose them beforehand to be conformed to the image of His Son so that Jesus would be the firstborn of a new family of believers, all brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29, VOICE). Prayer Heavenly Father, remind me to keep Jesus as my relational mediator, through Christ’s love and in Jesus’ name, amen. Application Who do I need to have a conversation with about reinstating Christ as our relational mediator? “祂知道那些有一天会成为祂的人，祂预先拣选了他们，要效法祂儿子的形像，好使耶稣成为一个新信徒家庭中的长子”（罗马书 8:29，嗓音）。 祷告 天父，提醒我借着基督的爱，奉耶稣的名，让耶稣成为我的关系中保，阿们。 应用 关于恢复基督作为我们关系的中保，我需要与谁交谈？ |