Friendships

“Obedience to God's Word is the watershed. And the failure of the evangelical world to take a biblical stand on the crucial issues of the day can only be seen as a failure to live life under the full authority of God's Word.” Francis A. Schaeffer

"You've got a friend in me!" Famous song from the Toy Story Cartoon series should be the motto of every believer regarding their relationship with Jesus.

“ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD AND IT WAS IMPUTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS: AND HE WAS CALLED THE FRIEND OF GOD.” James 2:23

Who are your friends? I mean real friends – they would take your call in the middle of the night – they will help you move (even if you own a piano) – they encourage you in tough times and tell you the truth even when it hurts. Those are friends! Most people have few friends, some allow almost none into their life. God's love allows for true friendship as it blossoms fully within faith. Abraham was a 'friend' of God – we are 'sons of God' by faith and 'heirs' with Christ! This does not come easy, as the price was God's only Son and maintaining this friendship may also cost. Abraham tried to bargain with God about Sodom and Gomorrah – Lot hesitated to leave the city and his wife perished with a wistful glance back at the city she loved too much!

Sunday is all about friendships and how we choose and what it may cost. Believers cannot live in love with the World and devotion toward the Lord – there will be a day of choosing. For Abraham it was difficult – for Lot it was hardship – for Lot's wife it was fatal. Whatever the World may offer my prayer is that the believer knows the value of Christ and cries out with zest – Give me Jesus!

Pastor Mike