My history has been His story.
“I have called you friends.” John 15:15 NIV.
My thoughts and comments today are about “friends.”
God created all that populated His new creation, and then created man to inhabit, manage, and enjoy that. But with the abundance of all that was his, Adam was alone. Then God said, “It is not good that man should be alone,” and God created a companion for Adam. You were not made to live life alone. At its core, the Gospel is relational. “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 NIV. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NIV. When you are reconciled to God, you can properly relate to others. A solitary life is incomplete. You and I were meant to be together, as one in Christ.
Growing up, I was more than a bit shy. As a young teen, my first venture into public speaking was devastating. In a service primarily for youth, I spoke so softly that an elderly man (a bit hard of hearing) turned to others in attendance and said more loudly than he realized, “Can’t hardly hear the boy, can you?” I don’t remember a thing I said after that, nor did I choose to speak in public until a High School speech class I couldn’t avoid. But that’s another embarrassing story.
After graduating from High School, I shared with my Dad, a pastor, that I felt God was calling me to ministry. Knowing my shyness and awkward self-consciousness, he warned me that successful ministry would not allow indulgence of my natural predisposition. With my Dad’s challenge and encouragement, and two young Bible school students brought into my life providentially that same summer, I chose to believe God could use or change my quiet, introverted personality for His glory. Those two young men became life-long friends and encouragers.
Choose friends who make you better. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.” Proverbs 12:26 NKJV. And be the friend who makes others better. Jesus elevates friendship. Without those and other friends; numerous spiritual mentors across the years; my loving, affirming wife; generous, encouraging congregations; and the grace of God, I would have been unable to obey and serve God as I should. My history has been His story.
There are aspects of God’s intention for you that can only be achieved within a circle of friends and mentors. ”Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! . . One may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NIV. Who are the friends and mentors God has put in your life to encourage your faith and obedience? Welcome them. Be thankful for them. Honor them. Into whose lives have you been placed to serve as a gift of His provision? Be generous. Be faithful. In serving them you are serving Christ Jesus. Read Colossians 3:23-24 NIV.
Today, I pray for you to embrace people God places in your life, some for a while, some for a lifetime, all for His purpose and pleasure.
Christian Communications 2016
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