Becoming Friends With Him And Them

One of the things that sometimes surprises those getting to know me is the studies I was involved in while in college. My majors are around the areas of Psychology, Human Services, Church Ministries and believe it or not, Philosophy. It is the area of Philosophy I find myself using many of the things I learned, especially logic and reasoning.

Many know I do a regular teaching whether at church, online, in my writings, or other settings. Many may not realize the number of times I personally contemplate on those teachings, thinking about how to apply them in and to my life. Many teachers and speakers will tell you, especially on matters of faith, that their teachings often apply to the teacher more than the student. While a teaching can have specific meaning for the teacher, it is likely a listener is in the same boat as the teacher and needs the teaching.

This last weekend I taught on the concept that God chooses to be our friend. I used the following passage:

John 15 - (13) The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them. (14) And you are my friends, if you obey me. (15) Servants don’t know what their master is doing, and so I don’t speak to you as my servants. I speak to you as my friends, and I have told you everything that my Father has told me.

I want to share a few brief points:

1st, God wants to be our friend, but there are conditions to that friendship. Verse 15 gives clear indication that we have to obey. 

The bible is full of instruction, one of the benefits of the church is that appropriate instruction should be given. Remember, the role of a pastor is to teach and equip others to observe the instructions from the ultimate love letter and instruction manual, the bible.

We all have friends and family, Christ gave the clear example of how to display love, to the point that he:

2ndly, Gave the example of what it meant to literally love so much that one is willing to lay down

their life for another.

The truth is, many of us have friends and family we deeply love, whether it be a best friend we have had since high school, a brother, sister, son, daughter, mother, father, and you likely get my point. Let me ask a simple question, if we haven't experienced the ultimate and best friendship and love possible, the perfect friendship and love if you will, if we don't observe and obey and take part in the instruction of scripture, the aspect of sharing in life with others who have learned this concept, how is one to expect to be the best friend, providing the best love possible to those around them, whether, a best friend from years gone by, or a family member, brother, sister, son, daughter, mother, father, and you likely get my point? 

Today, I want to challenge you, not to be just a so called friend, but instead, be a real friend, whether a Facebook friend or a real life honest to goodness friend from years gone by or a family member, brother, sister, son, daughter, mother, father, and you likely get my point, friend. 

Discover ways to access appropriate teachings, dedicate yourself to be the best you can be from academics, teaching received at church, then go into your practicum of becoming a good friend using those examples, then, graduate to the place where you are using those examples, teaching those you love about ultimate friendship and love and the best and perfect example, Jesus. 

As a footnote let me say, unfortunately a lot of churches don't practice this concept of loving each other as they should. Keep looking if having trouble finding one. I also know this, fortunately, there are those good teachers, consistent with the teachings of scripture, putting into practice, that ultimate example of love and friendship, initially displayed and still given by that perfect love and example, Jesus.

Good luck, carry on, and love. 

A great song on the area of friendship. To see and hear the song, just click on the video, if there is trouble, try the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XGX98OW4Rc

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