What makes for a good friendship? Why do some friendships last and others fizzle out?
Friendships require time and effort. I admit, some of my friendships have slipped away because I didn’t take the time needed to nurture and maintain them. Sometimes distance made getting together more of an effort than I felt I could offer. Neither of those are good excuses.
Romans 5:9-10 tells us that we were God's enemies, but God made us His friends through His Son, Jesus. Is God your friend? Do you treat Him as a good friend should?
Like our human friendships, maintaining our friendship with God also requires time and effort. Though God will never give up on us, we miss out on a real and living relationship with Him when we fail to put forth the effort to get to know Him better and choose to do other things instead of spending time with Him.
If a friendship is important to us, we work at it. We re-arrange our schedules, we plan our time together, we go the distance, we set aside other things that vie for our attention—all because we feel that this friendship, this relationship, is meaningful and worthwhile.
Our friendship with Jesus is the most significant, most consequential, and most vital relationship we will ever have. Yes, it requires energy and sacrifice to remain healthy! But the rewards are beyond measure--love, joy, forgiveness, and peace here on Earth and eternity in Heaven with Jesus! Be a good friend! He deserves our time and He is worth the effort.
Be encouraged!
