Three Ways to Strengthen Friendships
While there are places in scripture with examples of friendship in both the Old and New Testaments, I prefer some verses found in John 15:12-17. These words below are written by the apostle John (from Jesus).
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” -John 15:12-17
Finding a perfect solution to an imperfect situation is tough, but the Bible is the best place to start.
Strengthening relationships, like anything else, often means there are obligations or considerations.
The only place to start is to love one another, always. In obeying the “love one another” commandment, be honest with yourself. How would Jesus love me or my friend? Yes, I am a sinner and cannot change the past, but I CAN reboot and be wiped clean by Jesus. Hopefully, with spiritual help from above and praying often, we can avoid temptations of the world and grow in our spiritual walk. But even in our failures, know that Jesus still loves us all and we can restart our life in Him because of the cross.
In strengthening friendships, #2 PRAY for me and #3 SUPPORT me. These last two things are easy if you #1 LOVE me. But don’t enable me within my addiction or sickness or my disfunction. Help show me truth, real truth. The One TRUE truth. Show me love, REAL love. You have my permission to challenge me, friend, to be my best for Jesus Christ. You may challenge me, friend, to be my best for me and mine, and for my inner circle and my outer circle. And yes, you may challenge me, friend, to really think and consider what it is that is truly best for me in my broken down humanity and frailty. I do not want to be distracted by what may be trending to appear best in the moment or best in the social climate of today, or best in some version of my authenticity or my inner individual truth that I am supposed to be looking for or locating within myself. You may challenge me, friend, as I just relax my attention or accept things without thinking and be deceived. But really love me and don’t just give me empty words. Give me the Word. Give me Jesus. Give me Peace. Give me Life. Give me ETERNAL life through Jesus. Be the true friend; a life long friend. A friend to give up their life. Like Jesus.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” - John 1:1
It was Jesus, be like Jesus. Be that Friend: be true, be faithful, be holy, and be fruitful. Be what God intended us to be and what Jesus died for us to be. It is simply ok to just ask yourself: what would Jesus do?
Jesus loves you and I love you, too.
Be blessed, be faithful, be holy, and true and may God’s peace be with you all, my friends!
by: Tommy Wright, Life Community Church Elder