Date:
February 7, 2024Going the Distance
Our world has become impersonal—and we’ve become uninvolved and reluctant to serve others. And yet, it’s in helping others we find the key to a fulfilled life.
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Friendship
We all make various acquaintances throughout our lives—people who come into our circle for a season and then move on. With some, we’re content to let them go. But with others, we’re not. Once an acquaintance turns into true friendship, we hold on more tightly to that friend. A friend is a favoured companion for whom we feel affection or esteem. Why is a friend favoured? Most likely, it has much to do with how we feel when we’re with him or her. A friend accepts us as we are and is patient with our faults. A friend points out our strengths and rejoices at our successes. A friend’s presence and listening ear fill a void in us and give our lives a sense of validation and greater depth.
Do you have such a friend? Do you know how to be that friend? These resources can help you recognize the need for friendship and develop the attributes that will make you a treasured friend to others.
A friend is always loyal,
and a brother is born to help in time of need.
(Proverbs 17:17 NLT)
Assimilation
A sermon will not meet our needs—we need someone to hear, someone to feel the blows in our life, someone to help us cushion the heavy weight when it drops down on us. We need to assimilate into the body of Christ.
A Place of Refuge
When you take time to listen to others without criticizing or lecturing you’re providing a safe and honest environment. We all need a place of refuge.
We Do Need Friends
Friends are essential. They provide comfort, encouragement, and strength.
Empathy and Sympathy
There’s a big difference between empathy and sympathy. To sympathize is to feel for someone. To empathize is to feel with someone.
Love Doesn't Go There
We’ve all been wronged, but keeping a list of the wrongs only makes things worse. The best way to recover is to forgive.
Colour-Blind
Prejudice is a learned trait, but it can be unlearned. It takes a renewed mind to remove the blinders of prejudice and see people for who they are...instead of what they look like.
We Need Encouragement
We all need encouragement. Many people are worn down by worry and anxiety and those who seem like they have it all together are often the ones who need encouragement the most.
The Best Teacher
True of false? Experience is the best teacher. Experience is a good teacher, but guided experience is the best teacher. We need people to come alongside us; people who care enough to confront us when we’re off base. And when we’re confronted, we need the humility to learn from it.
Foundation Problems
A house needs to be built on a solid foundation or it will crack, sag, and even collapse. In the same way your life needs to be built on the foundation of God’s Word so you won’t be swept away by false teaching.
