Make
Friends
Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT) state, "Think of ways to
encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. And let us not
neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each
other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing
near."
I love the way the New Living Translation puts this verse.
"THINK of ways to encourage one another!!!! " When
was the last time you took the time to think of how you could encourage another
believer. This is a great first step to making a friend. Sometimes
too many of us sit back and wait for someone to want to take the
initiative to invest in our life. Then we wonder why it has been so many
months (or even years) that we have been involved in the church WITHOUT making
one true friend. We ALL have busy lives, but God made us to LOVE one
another. If we go through our entire life living in seclusion from
others, then life will eventually become dry. God made us for FELLOWSHIP
with Him and others!
Let us be encouraged to PRAY specifically about whom God would
have each of us invest some time into so that ALL of us can enjoy the benefits
of true friendship. Maybe it is someone that serves in the classroom
right beside yours that could use a prayer partner over the phone or over lunch
once a week! Maybe it's your teaching partner that you have never seen
outside of serving in the Children's ministry together. Maybe you need to
get involved in a small group Bible study. God wants us to have a couple
of close Christian friends to be able to walk through life together.
Proverbs 27:17 states, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man
sharpens the countenance of his friend."
Proverbs 27:9 states, "... And the sweetness of a man's
friend gives delight by hearty counsel."
Proverbs 17:17 states, "A friend loves at all
times..."
John 15:13 states, "Greater love has no one than this, than
to lay down one's life for his friends."
So, let us be bold and make a/some friend(s) all the while
giving glory to our Friend and Savior Jesus Christ!