I’d like to spend a few
minutes with you today talking about something that is close to my heart. There are some people who make me much
better.
These people make me
stronger plus they make life much sweeter.
As I thought about what to share I went back through some things I wrote
in the past and some verses I have shared.
Here are a few of those thoughts from the past several years that remind
me what a real friend looks and acts like.
Proverbs 18:24 NLT
There are
"friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks
closer than a brother.
Our best and closest friend
must be Jesus. There is a plus to being
in a close friendship with God. It is the benefit of knowing someone who
has influence and who wants to share blessings. God wants to share with
us. Are we allowing Him to share? Are we staying far from God
because of view of God isn't quite right?
Proverbs 17:17 NASB
A friend loves at
all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
Accepting and forgiving
others is a choice we have to make. It begins with us accepting and
forgiving ourselves for the things we have done in the past. It begins
with accepting what God has done for us and allowing our lives to be a funnel
for those awesome characteristics of God to be experienced by the people around
us.
Matthew 9:36
NLT
When he saw the
crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like
sheep without a shepherd.
Our world is broken and
needs hope, and it is through our lives and our stories that people will find
real hope. They will find Jesus.
This world needs people who
care for each other in an authentic way.
Through the years we have seen lots of fakes. These are the people who make you think all
is well, that make you think they are friends, but when the fire is turned up
or life is difficult, they walk or even run away.
We need Jesus, and we need
friends. We nee people who make our
lives stronger and better. To be a true
friend is to make a commitment to another person that is important to you. To be a friend takes time, energy and great
love. We need to be that kind of friend.
We need to be friends. We
need to be partners in life, in work and in ministry. We need to be seen as
precious people. Why? Because people need to Jesus. There is the reason for us
being in God's family.
1 John 4:12 NLT
No one has ever seen
God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full
expression in us.
True friends share the love
of God no matter what. People will see
Jesus when we chose to love. Loving God
and loving people is a high calling. It
is one I chose!
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