I am impressed to make a not so grandiose resolution: to strengthen my friendship to someone. 1Thessalonians2:8 reminds me that the heart of the Gospel is not just in meeting physical or spiritual needs of others but, to the degree that we make opportunities, to befriend a small number of people.
Technology both makes this easy on a surface level and harder on a deeper level; deepening some connections necessitates cutting off other superficial contacts in order to give us more time and focus.
A small inspirational quote from CSLewis:
“I have no duty to be anyone's Friend and no man in the world has a duty to be mine. No claims, no shadow of necessity. Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art, like the universe itself (for God did not need to create). It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
Comments
HE IS RISEN!
Thank you Lance and RG.
I have committed to meeting more regularly with two brothers and so far it has been rewarding. PTL!
when we are making disciples we are making friends. Many of my closest Christian friends are those who I did Evangelism Explosion (EE) with because we spent at least a few hours of every week praying together, learning together, and witnessing to the lost about Christ together. One builds a bond when one gets together with 2 other people for 12-20 weeks or longer for the purpose of intentionally sharing the Gospel.
Interesting. Reminds me of the relationship with Faith and Works. Works will not save us since we are saved by Faith. But works come about as a result of Faith. We aren't commanded to make friends but we are commanded to Love. And through Love, comes friends.