We've been created to crave meaningful relationships.
Sometimes we surround ourselves with acquaintances and friends that don't necessarily point us towards Jesus. Then, there are some friendships that not only encourage us, but challenge us in our faith. They push us towards the truth of Scripture rather then their opinion. They live out love, joy, peace and self-control; and in doing so, encourage us to want to live like that too. The Bible not only talks about friendship, but paints a picture of true fellowship lived out in the community of the local church. We are called to love one anther, hold each other accountable, be honest with our sin and challenge one another to be more like Jesus.
However, when it comes to real life, these types of friendships can be hard to find and even harder to maintain. Let's face it, we try to love each other like Jesus but friendships consist of two sinful people. Rachel Jones in 6 Friends Every Christian Has (And the One You Really Need), goes through the different types of friends you probably have and the one type of friend you should look for. The not-so-good friends most of have are:
- The never-sharer
- The oversharer
- The one-upmanship-er
- The sympathetic head-nodder
- The joker
- The I'm-fine faker
Then, there is the real friend. This is the friend we all want and try to be.
- They encourage you when your facing hard things
- They challenge you in your sin
- They remind you that God's grace is new everyday
- They aren't afraid to be upfront with their own struggles/sins
- They talk about Jesus a lot
- They want to do life with you
- They expect the same from you
As we pursue healthy community, let's continue to chase after Jesus. Let's continue to encourage one another, challenge one another, remind each other of God's grace in our lives and be vulnerable in our walk with Jesus.
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