I recently visited two friends, one in D.C. and the other in Atlanta, who have been my friends for over 30 years. These are my oldest and precious friends who have enriched my life. There are a few friends I have made since I moved to my current city, whom I have known about 11 years, and they too are precious to me as well. I have also met some pretty amazing friends from other states who I love and I cherish. Then, there are the friendships I share with my four daughters and three sons. They are all adults now and they are all super special to me and they make my day. My friends are wonderful and I am blessed to have a circle of friends who blesses me and make my life rich.
My sister just left today going back to her city after a few days of rest and relaxation at my home. We don’t see much of one another, but when we are together, it is as if we have never been apart. We really didn’t rest, but any time we are together we find that it relaxes us and we are restored. We enjoy God’s presence and speaking of Him causes us to soar into another zone and I simply love it. I thought about what make each of my friends so dear to my heart and I realize it is the communion of God’s love that binds us together. They are women of great faith, co-laborers in Christ, worshippers of God and lovers of His Word. I don’t speak to any of them every day, but when we do communicate, our conversations are rich. We share the same spiritual blood; the Blood of Jesus and the same thoughts; His thoughts. We understand one another because we are all spiritual, and speak the same language, which is the language of the Holy Spirit. We all share the love of the same book; the Bible and we discern life from the heights of Heaven. Most of our conversations would probably not be understood by the natural mind, but those who are spiritual would understand us.
Amazingly, our Lord downloads information into us to share and discuss with each other and there is never any discord, for we can discern the wisdom that comes from the Lord and know that it is true. We applaud and support one another’s gifting and talents as we encourage one another to do what we were created to do. There are no arguments, competition, striving for positions, envy nor jealousies, for we understand that we are hewn from the same Rock; Jesus! Righteousness, peace, love and joy is the stuff we are made of as we strive to encourage and build up one another.
I write this because so many people might get true friendships and relationships confused by what they see on television and think that women are always fighting, pulling hair, swearing or slandering one another. I have heard far too many women say that they never want to have women as friends because of their jealousies. These poor women have been hooked winked by the enemy and robbed of the greatest thing God has created for humans to enjoy, and that is friendship. We were created to be in alliance with someone else and to enjoy companionship. We may or may not have husbands, but our hearts are large enough to love friends as well. If a person has one good friend, they are rich indeed. I have been blessed to have several friends who I love and they love me. True friends respect one another’s time and don’t become jealous when the other friend has to attend to husbands, parents, children, ministry, jobs or other friends. There is enough time for all things.
I encourage you today that if you have friends, don’t take them for granted. Respect them, love them and if you have hurt them, then be quick to apologize. We can hurt without intending to do so. If there is a problem, fix it quickly and give the Devil no ground.
There was a time when a man’s word was his bond and if he said it; he honored his own words and did whatever he said he would do. Not anymore; people want a signed contract, in the event you need to go to court. If a person had friends, they gave their friends special honor and preference over strangers. What happened to honor? Well, I believe there are friends who cherish, honor and respect their friends. Jesus said that the world would know us by our love for one another. David and Jonathan, Jesus and John, Moses and Aaron (there are fighting kinfolks) to name a few who knew how to love as friends. A few people have written some pretty sick stuff about some of the friends mentioned above, but they need their mouths washed out with soap, along with their minds and I hope you haven’t heard what was said or written.
The question is, who are your friends? Do they believe what you believe? How can two walk together, unless they agree? If your friend is carnal or worldly and you claim to be spiritual, what do you have to talk about? What are your conversations like? If their conversations are all about carnal things, then how can they be your friend if you have been admonished by Christ to be of one mind? Now, I am aware that you can have carnal associates in the workplace, school or neighborhood, but if your ace cool boon is your sidekick, what do you have in common? Think about that one for a moment. How does she enrich your life spiritually and how do you enrich hers, if she is carnal? She can’t understand your walk because it would be crazy to her. Turn the other cheek you say?…pleeze!!!! Somebody will catch a charge! Die to self? I don’t think so red robbin. Shouldn’t you both bring something to the table? Reevaluate your relationships and see if they will stand strong before God.
It is a powerful thing to have friends who know the Lord and understand how to walk in His love. I encourage you, brethren, to love one another completely.
No comments:
Post a Comment