Seize the Moment – Day 1343
Invest in Friendship!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, November 20.
Friendships are an integral part of life. It’s important to invest in friends because no one can experience human flourishing apart from friendship. God designed us this way – to love and be loved. Sorry, I know it’s hard, but there are no exceptions to this rule. None of us plan on receiving a cancer diagnosis, or losing our loved one in an accident, or experiencing the devastation of a house fire, but in all three cases, having friends walk with us through the valley of the shadow is essential. We need friends! Often in difficult times, we want to push people away from us, but a friend will stick closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Solomon expresses the importance of having trustworthy friends in your life:
Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.
Do you have people who know you and will check on you when you don’t show up to school, work, or church? Can you name a single person who has permission to look you in your eyes and hold you accountable to your decisions? Without you biting his or her head off? If you don’t have a friend like this, then I encourage you to start praying for one to two people to come into your life. Make this a priority. The best way to find such friends is to be one!
Seize the moment and invest in friendship by being a good friend today!
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.