Resource - Karen & Ron Flowers I. The Quality Of Our Human Relationship Reflects The Quality Of our Relationship With God  A. 1 John 3:14 - from death to life.  B. A Rabbi asked his students - "How can we determine the hour of dawn?"   1. One student - Is it when you can distinguish between dog and sheep at a distance? No.   2. Second student - It is when you can distinguish between a fig tree and a grapevine? No.   3. Teacher - "It is when you have enough light to look human beings in the face and recognize them as your brothers and sisters. Until then, the darkness is still with us."

II. Vertical And Horizontal Relationship Matthew 22:37-40
   Vertical --> God
   Horizontal --> Man

 A. Over emphasis on vertical results in unbalanced, mystical religion.
  1. Development of spiritual centers.
  2. Shrine of La Verna in Italy where dedicants place relationship above everything else.
   a. Self-imposed exclusion from human contact.
   b. Wish to reach state of perfect holiness.
   c. Believe God will honor them with stigmata of Jesus.
    (1) Radical isolation - 7 years. Coming out of cell twice a day - once for prayers and once to eat.
    (2) They never exchange a word with another human being.
 God does not expect or ask for this.
 Over emphasis on horizontal relationship.
  1. Life focused on here and now.
  2. A man named Frank - reputation for piety and sacrifice.
   a. Gave a lot of money to the church.
   b. Paid for literature rack at bus station.
   c. Passed out more handbills than anyone else.
   d. Work day - was there early till late.
   e. One day his son said "Daddy stay home tonight." His wife also pleaded with him to stay home.
   f. He said "Woman, you do not understand the things of God."

III. Cracks In Facade

 A. Not right with wife and kids.
 B. Such religion ebbs and flows.

IV. Avoiding The Ditches
Avoid the ditches - stay in the middle

 A. Romans 1 -11 presents good news.
 B. Romans 12 describes transformation.
  1. Matthew 5:23,24 Make things right with your brother.
  2. Matthew 25:35-45 By treating people with respect we demonstrate or love for God. Make things right with your brother.
  3. John 13:34 a new commandment... New in the sense it had not been practiced.
  4. John 15:12 "Love as I have loved you..." We show our love for God by our relationship with people.
 C. Apostles
  1. 1 John 4:21 ...love his brother. Demonstrate we love God by loving our neighbor.
  2. Summary of entire law Galations 5:14
 D. Only human love can comprehend God's love 1 John 4:11,12 ( John 13:35 ).
 If God loved us, we ought to love one another. For God so loved... that he gave.