Think of relationships that have worked in your life. Think of those that haven't. What have you learned from these experiences?

There is an enduring quality to what we call 'covenant relationships'; relationships where there is a mutual understanding and commitment to making God's love credible to another, be it a spouse, a friend, family member, colleague or stranger.

Marriage is the binding together of two lives with the understanding that each is committed to the other for the purpose of mirroring and ministering the love of Christ. Two separate beings become bound together as one new community of oneness.

From God's point of view, each relationship exists as its own separate living entity. We are responsible for tending that relationship even as we would a newborn child. Relationships need nurture, care, feeding and, at times, doctoring.

Think of a the friendships that existed between Jonathan and David, or Ruth and Naomi. Their continued loyalty to God and each other brought spiritual benefits that advanced them on their respective journeys. Each one was a gift to the other.

We need to commit our lives to God for the purpose of bringing out the best in the relationships with which we have been entrusted.

Natural Philosophy recognizes the benefits of community and companionship. Solomon wrote: "Two are better than one." (See Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). The supernatural philosophy of Jesus takes relationships further. "The two are better as one." (See Matthew 19:5-6). The goal of each relationship is to reflect the image of the Godhead: to become a 'community of oneness'. This is the prayer of Jesus for those who would be His followers: "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:21-23).

How is this prayer to be answered? Not through political alliances or social contracts. It is answered as we take up our responsibility to walk in the Spirit and give others the kind of love God thinks they deserve.