Choosing to Be A Friend

How is the LR going for you? Are you having an adventure with Jesus? As you Listen to Jesus, what is He saying to you? How would you describe the Risk factor with Listening? Do you feel closer to Jesus?

Friendship...
Familiar, fondness, acquaintance, associate, casual friend, pal are all terms of friendship. How are you doing with friendship these days?

"Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit,if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Phil 2:1-4 

Friendship is a choice.
Jesus chose to be in a relationship with you. Do you have "any encouragement" from Jesus choosing you? Choice is a powerful gift and responsibility, especially as it relates to friendships. Friendships can come and go. There are so many other demands, responsibilities and relationships that seem to come before friendship. Friendship is scarce these days. That is why as we seek to live out the Great Commission and Great Commandment, we need the reminder; Friendship is a choice. "I chose to be your friend" is a powerful decision.

​Friendship is a choice to be interested in another person.
"Do you have any encouragement" that Jesus chose to be interested in you and your concerns, fears and worries? Does Jesus' focus on you and your concerns motivate you to be interested in other peoples' concerns, fears and worries? Do you connect with a friend to find out what they are going through or are you just focused on sharing what you are going through? "Do nothing out of selfish ambition." "Do nothing out of vain conceit." Two powerful instructions that need to be contemplated.

Friendship is a choice to be with another person.

Once we respond to Jesus' invitation to be adopted into His family, He tells us, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 How often do you spend time with your friends? Time is a precious gift. What kind of gifts are you giving your friends? To say, "I am with you in spirit," is to say, "I am not with you." Let's be more and more like Jesus and give our friends our time.

Seeking to BB (Be with & Build Up),
Pastor Chris

LR = Listen & Risk with God
BB = Be with & Build up Christians
SS = Serve & Share with those far from God

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