My Chemistry and Connections Matter

In Mark 12:30-31 I read, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these." (NIV)

God made me wonderfully complex with five factors that influence my identity. When I can understand and embrace those five factors, I can start to experience real transformation toward becoming the person God made me to be.

Today I’ll look at the first two of those five factors: chemistry and connections.

The first factor that makes me who I am is my chemistry. This includes things like my DNA and chemical makeup. My traits such as hypersensitivity, or my tolerance for pain. At times I have a low energy level, other times, I’m bouncing off the walls. I have aches and pains, weak eyesight, and low levels of oxytocin, a hormone that affects how I relate to others.

No part of my chemistry is sinful or shameful—it’s the way God wired me!

Just like a pair of distressed jeans whose tag reads: “These jeans have intentional flaws in order to make them unique.” My “genes” are the same way: They have “flaws” that make me unique. Those flaws are part of my custom design, and God planned them for his purpose and glory.

The second factor that influences my identity is my connections. My connections give my life purpose, meaning, and identity. Jesus said that the most important thing I should do is love God and love other people: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31 NIV).

Life is not about my accomplishments or acquisitions, my popularity or prestige. It’s about connections—how well I love.

Three problems keep me from loving fully as God intended:

1. I’m imperfect. There are no perfect relationships because there are no perfect people.

2. Sin disconnects me. Adam and Eve had the first broken relationship and disconnected themselves from God and from each other. We’ve been excusing ourselves and accusing the people we love ever since.

3. The more disconnected I am, the more fearful I become. I crave intimacy, but I fear vulnerability. I crave acceptance, but I fear rejection.

When it comes to my connections, I may have been dealt a difficult hand. But I’m responsible for what I do with my connections. Will I let God affect my connections? Will I trust him for my future in spite of a difficult past? Will I nurture, protect, and build relationships so that God is more fully glorified in my life?

Am I ready to use my identity for God’s glory? I need to decide today to embrace my God-given chemistry and build healthy connections with God’s help.

In summary, God has made me wonderfully complex with five factors that influence my identity. When I can understand and embrace those five factors, I can start to experience real transformation toward becoming the person God made me to be. Here are the first two of those five factors: chemistry and connections. The first factor that makes me who I am is my chemistry (my DNA and chemical makeup). All of my traits go into this make up. What I’m learning is that no part of my chemistry is sinful or shameful—it’s the way God wired me! Much like a pair of distressed jeans whose tag reads: “These jeans have intentional flaws in order to make them unique.” My “genes” are the same way: They have “flaws” that make me unique. Those flaws are part of my custom design, and God planned them for his purpose and glory. The second factor that influences my identity is my connections. My connections give my life purpose, meaning, and identity. Jesus said that the most important thing I should do is love God and love other people. Life is not about my accomplishments or acquisitions, my popularity or prestige. It’s about connections—how well I love. Three problems keep me from loving fully as God intended: 1. I’m imperfect. There are no perfect relationships because there are no perfect people. 2. Sin disconnects me. 3. The more disconnected I am, the more fearful I become. When it comes to my connections, I may have been dealt a difficult hand. But I’m responsible for what I do with my connections. Will I let God affect my connections? Will I trust him for my future in spite of a difficult past? Will I nurture, protect, and build relationships so that God is more fully glorified in my life? Am I ready to use my identity for God’s glory? I need to decide today to embrace my God-given chemistry and build healthy connections with God’s help.

God's laws are not burdensome. They can be reduced to two simple principles: Love God and love others. These commands are from the Old Testament. When I love God completely and care for others as I care for myself, then I have fulfilled the intent of the Ten Commandments and the other Old Testament laws. According to Jesus, these two commandments summarize all God's laws. Let them rule my thoughts, decisions, and actions. When I'm uncertain about what to do, ask myself which course of action best demonstrates love for God and love for others.