Friendship is important. God has created us with the need to be in relationship with others. When we have close friends, we are blessed in so many ways. Close friends can strengthen us, encourage us, challenge us, build us up, give us confidence, help us to feel loved. When we have healthy friendships with others, we will experience strength and blessing in our lives. As Ecclesiastes
4:10-12 says: 10 If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
I want to lead you through an exercise. Write down 5 - 10 names of close friends. Now, if you talk to them at least once a week, circle their name. Now if you think that they would write your name down on their list, underline their name. Now, did you put Jesus on that list? Many times in life, we forget that Jesus considers us a friend. Jesus would put your name and my name down on a list of friends. As we are told in John 15:15, 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
I want to encourage you to think about Jesus not just as Lord and savior, but as your friend. God is daily inviting us to be in friendship. We accept God's invitation when we read the Bible, live out the dreams God gives us, listen to the small voice of God. And with Jesus as our friend, we can overcome the doubt, fear, insecurity, confusion, and frustration that can wreak havoc in our lives.
What do you think about friendship? What do you think about Jesus as your friend? Let me know by clicking on the comment button below. Have a blessed day. Chris
