When I think of the word friendliness, I think of cheerful actions and someone who outwardly welcomes others.  The dictionary defines friendliness as having the characteristic of a friend.  A friend is one who knows you, is fond of you, stands with you on the same side of a struggle, supports, helps and is considered reliable.   Scripture gives us several examples that align with this definition of being a friend.

One example that comes to mind is the friendship between David and Jonathan.  David was the future king of Israel, anointed by Samuel the prophet and pursued by the current king, Saul.  Jonathan was Saul’s son and David’s friend.  They protected each other and knew God had a specific plan for each of them.  In spite of all the turmoil surrounding Saul’s pursuit of David and trying to kill him, Jonathan remained David’s faithful friend.  Their story is recorded in 1 and 2nd Samuel.

Scripture also speaks of friendship with God.  Abraham was described as a friend of God in James 2:23.  “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.”   Jesus named us as friends, too.  John 15:13-15,17 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you…. This is my command: Love each other.”    In addition, Proverbs 17:17 gives us when and how long we are to be friends.  “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

What am I to take away from these examples of friendliness?  God wants to call us His friends but it requires that we obey Him and seek His righteousness.  We need to be about God’s business with our lives- loving, helping and supporting others.  We need to stand with each other in times of adversity-hand in hand as brothers.  This is certainly more than having a cheerful attitude.  I need to ask myself, am I being a friend and exhibiting friendliness towards my brothers and sisters in Christ?  Am I being friendly to others in His name?  Hebrews 13:1-2 reminds us “Keep on loving each other as brothers.  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels with knowing it.”

Look for those angels today as you serve Him striving to walk in friendship with Almighty God,

Linda

 

Moses told the Israelites to ‘remember’ the conditions that God rescued them from.  Deuteronomy 5:15  “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the LORD your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.”   David states his resolve in Psalm 77:11-12 to remember what God did for his people in the past and what God did for him.  “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.  I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”    Jesus asked us to remember His sacrifice as we observe communion.  “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24   We are reminded to ‘remember’ who God is, what He has done for us and how Jesus’ work on the cross brings us to Him.  God knows we have short memories and easily forget what great things He has done in our lives- for us and through us!  Lastly, I want to mention what God has in mind for His memory. Hebrews 8:12 God says, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”  This truth is stated throughout scripture that God forgives completely and will not see our sin when we stand before Him because of our faith in Jesus and what He did on the cross.   Praise God!!

What brought this word ‘remember’ to my mind today is that I am planning to attend my 50th High School reunion this weekend.  Memory is a funny thing.  We often remember only the good things that happened and gloss over them or see them through ‘rose colored glasses’ so to speak.  God encourages us to see things truthfully and look at the things we did, their consequences and then what He did for us in spite of our circumstances.  He wants us to view things through ‘His lens’ and know we are loved, saved and forgiven.   Our past does not have to define us but it helped shape us and  bring us to where we are today.

Looking forward to viewing the past and thanking God for all those things that helped bring me to where I am today in Him.

Linda     Found these cartoons and could not resist adding them.

One can only travel for so long, then you yearn for the familiarity of home.  I enjoyed my month in Greece and will be processing all that I learned and encountered for years to come, but it felt good to sleep in my own bed, enjoy TV in English and to cook my own food.  I was meditating this morning on our eternal home and how we will feel when we get there.  Psalm 84:10-12 gives us a glimpse of how very rich our eternal home will be.

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.  For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor ; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trust in you.”

If I enjoy coming back to my earthly home, how much more will I enjoy my heavenly home?  It will be a splendid and holy place where God is forever present.  He will provide the purity, light and protection in my heavenly home.  He will treat me with love and honor.  What a glorious place and time await me.  For now my job is to be in my earthly home and cling to His promises, walk in His ways and trust in Him.

Do you live with a sense of anticipation for your heavenly home?  I am anticipating its splendor but am content to live here walking with Him each day.  Knowing our heavenly home awaits us, gives us hope and courage for the challenges we face each day.  Thank you Lord for the assurance of such a wonderful place that awaits us in you. Amen

Home is where your heart is now and in the future.

Linda

I came upon this beautiful Greek Othodox church in my wanderings around Athens this week.  I’m missing my home church as we are celebrating 40 years of fellowship.  Jesus told us in   Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”  My church looks nothing like this one yet it is just as beautiful. It is the heart and faith of those who worship our Lord and Savior that make a church. If you do not have a church home -go in search of one today. There you will find solice, support and genuine fellowship with other believers.  Happy 40th Anniversary to Crossroads!!

Linda