Forever Friends
Dear Kindred Spirits in Christ,
Lately, my thoughts have been lingering on the act of friendship - the deep, everlasting kind of friendship that every soul longs for. I've found over the years that it's an action word. As a friend, we reach out to share and fellowship together, helping each other as any number of needs arise - illness, loss, lack of provisions or support.
Yet many of us live too far away from each other to physically connect. We don't have the pleasure of being able to visit over a meal or special gathering, or have the option to just drop by for a few minutes to say hello. So we post and message, or phone and video chat instead.
Above all, we pray for each other. James 5:16 states: Confess your faults one to another, and pray for another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective....
Romans 12:10 commands: Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Above ourselves...that is a very beautiful and often times difficult thing to do - especially when there's the tendency to see the mote in a brother's eye while being oblivious to the beam protruding from our own. I think our flawed human flesh can obstruct the view from our spiritual eyes, and we need to be aware of it in our daily lives.
We can become discouraged, to the point of fighting depression. 1st Thessalonians 5:11 has the answer. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing... Our heavenly Father guides and directs us with His wisdom and instruction. It's part of our daily walk as we journey on.
Some of us have close family that we can rely on. Others feel more alone, missing what once was. But we're never really alone when we claim the kinship of Christ. God works through His people and has been known countless times to send help and encouragement at just the right moment.
I actually feel close to many of you, although we haven't had the pleasure of actually meeting in this earth age. I like to think that we were close in the beginning, when God created us for His pleasure - and that we'll embrace again in the eternity. Proverbs 18:24 says that a man who has friends must himself be friendly, and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
As this age draws to a close, I hope and pray that we will truly cherish each other in a Godly way. Eternity never ends, and for those who believe, we are destined to be friends and family forever.
Love Always,
Marti