As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. Proverbs 27:17
Yesterday, you made a list of friends compared to Paul’s friends. Did you find any similar friends in your life? Did you take the time to write them an encouraging letter to them? This should have pointed out how grateful you are to have these people in your life, or it should reveal a lack of godly friends and mentors are in your life. Is this the first time ready this passage or have you read it numerous times? This passage here should show you how valuable relationships are in our lives.
Are you being intentional in investing in friendships? How are you with making new friendships?
About a year and a half ago, my family and I have moved. Now we are in a new town. Alone. We have to make new friends. Can you relate? Some of us in our household have made friends easily and some of us have not. Some of us are more cautious than others. Some of us have jumped into relationships that have blown up in our faces and not been a good thing, where some of us have taken our time and really search out who is good spiritual friends for us. It’s the simple fact though, some of us were active and some of us were not. Is your circle of friends closed or open to others? Are you willing to get involved in real, messy relationships, or do you watch from a distance?
Our relationships are important. The way we reach out to others, can impacted their lives in their daily walk. Paul shared the good news with those who didn’t know about Jesus. He reminded the Roman Christians of how the good news impacted their daily walk. What a great example we have! We need to help one another apply the gospel in our everyday situations. Let’s help each other grow more in Christ, and put God and others first. Relationships are hard, they are messy, and can be filled with drama. Relationships can be complicated. However, the Good News can change everything and that includes our relationships. Relationships enrich our lives. This is what we can learn from Paul and his relationships.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us relationships. Even though they can be hard, I pray that we will each see the positive in them. I pray that each of us will be a friend that we need to be to others. I pray that we will be friends to others that spread the gospel news of Jesus. I pray that we will help one another in our walk with you.
In Jesus Name
Amen
