Friendship is a way that we can extend love to those whom God came to rescue. Colossians 1:13-14 says, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”Īlthough believers now belong to another kingdom, that does not mean that we do not share the love of God with others. They are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom where Jesus reigns. Christians have a role in sharing the good news that Jesus saves with a lost, broken world living in sin, depravity and darkness. It is God alone who saves, and it is by faith alone that we trust in this saving work. Unless we turn to Jesus and be saved, we are under the bondage of sin, and we belong to the kingdom of darkness. Friendship with the world is impossible because light and darkness have nothing in common ( 2 Corinthians 6:14). He is described as “the god of this world blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” ( 2 Corinthians 4:4). It is a kingdom that stands against God and His people. It is important to remember that this world has been corrupted by sin and the prince of this world is Satan. So why would us becoming a friend of the world make us an enemy to God? God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus, so that anyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life ( John 3:16). “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” ( James 4:4). Photo credit: ©Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages He also calls those who follow Him friends too. “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” ( John 15:15). Jesus revealed the will of the Father to His disciples and called them “friends.” Abraham believed in God through his faith and obedience it was counted to him as righteousness and he was called a “friend of God” ( Genesis 15:6 James 2:23). God is also described as a “Friend” in the Bible. We may think “they are like family to me” or they are “like the family I never had.” The Lord blesses us with good friendships with others. “Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you - better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away” ( Proverbs 27:10).Īnyone who has lived far away from family, whether in proximity or in spirit, knows how precious close, genuine friendships are.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |