Blog Feed
August 2024
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AuthorMy name is Sue and I live in Colorado. I love Jesus and I follow Him. I started this blog three and half years ago as I sensed God inviting me to write a book. I was advised to start a blog. I decided this Fall 2023 to create a new platform to give the blog a fresh look. It feels more life giving than my original site. |
7/22/2024 0 Comments Fellowship and FriendshipFriendship – how do you describe or define it?
How do you know you are a good friend? What are some characteristics of a friend? What does God define as a friend? A friend loves at all times. Proverbs 17:17 In the past two years, two of my closest friends had their feelings hurt over unmet expectations. The circumstances were different, but the reaction and aftermath were the same. They were hurt. There was blame and accusations. I’ll spare you the details. Recently, I sent each of them a card and shared how much their friendship meant to me. I received a response from one of them. I began writing back. Halfway through my response, I realized my heart was reacting from a prideful stance. I asked God for wisdom and His response blew me away. He allowed me to see the correlation in this person’s email to our relationship, His and mine. What I heard was love the Lord with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Matthew 22:37 and love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:38) I realized there was a log in my eye. It was hindering me from seeing the better thing. I wanted to be right. I had determined who was hurt and who was wrong. The better thing was my relationship with Jesus and my friend’s relationship with Jesus. If I choose to run from adversity or choose the wrong thing then I am not choosing to remain with Jesus. Am I willing to die to myself and be about the better thing? I remember my pastor one Sunday saying, “We get to”. A light bulb went on in my head. I get to because of what Jesus did on the cross. It’s a privilege and a gift to be able to extend God’s grace and forgiveness. He already did, now I get to. He is the better thing. My reaction, wanting to be right, had nothing to do with my loving Jesus and my friend’s heart. It had nothing to do with being concerned about her relationship with Jesus. I needed to see the big log in my eye first and then remove it. In my interactions, I need to consider that my relationship with Jesus and the other person’s relationship with Jesus is better. It is not who is right or wrong or whether I’ve been wronged. A friend loves at all times.
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