The Bible is full of people who have learned from God how to be friends that understand, connect with, admire, challenge, and love each other.
Though Zacchaeus came with baggage, Jesus’ decision to love anyway completely changed Zacchaeus’ life for the better.
When we love God with all of our hearts, we will have the capacity to love people wholeheartedly and live out the exciting destiny God has for each of us.
This parable will help us understand what it feels like to be lost and how God responds to that feeling by always trying to bring us home.
Motivation to build relationships happens when we are moved by God’s love and have the courage to face our fears.
Being vulnerable with God means being comfortable with our weaknesses because we know God’s power is greater than any of our weaknesses or flaws and that all our strength and courage comes from God. There’s freedom knowing that God loves us no matter what and can make us strong despite our weaknesses or insecurities.
With insecurity, God never responds with criticism. He responds with a purpose to live for something beyond themselves.
Once our faith in God is strong, it becomes easy to overcome the temptation to be cynical in human relationships.