1. The Desire to be Fully Known and Deeply Loved
Have you ever been in a room full of people, yet felt completely alone? This loneliness is an all too familiar feeling that many of us have experienced at some point in our lives. Even when we have friends or family with us, this can still be a haunting reality. But why does this happen? Shouldn’t it be impossible to feel like the only person in a room alone while physically being present with those we love and cherish? We all share the top 2 reasons we need friends in our life.
Why I Need Friends
This comes down to the truth that every person on earth is meant to be known on a deep, personal, and meaningful way that changes the way we live and experience joy. There have been many a times where a kind action, random word of encouragement or prayer from a friend changed the trajectory of how my day went. This happened because they know what makes me feel deeply loved because of many shared moments of euphoric joy, utter despair, and everything in between. They knew exactly what made me “click”. We all share the top 2 reasons we need friends in our life.
Friendship is Cultivated Over Time
This deep kind of friendship is cultivated over time and has a great level of intentionality. The core and commonality of every deep friendship I have is a love for Jesus Christ and his word. Most relationships have a shared common interest. This can help build closeness. However, sharing an abiding relationship with our savior changes our hearts, our everyday lives, and deepens the meaning behind why friendships are made and maintained.
How to Have a Good Friend
Every relationship in the eyes of a believer is made to display the beauty of Jesus and to make him known. The depth of God is unending. This gives us the chance to constantly seek him and one another for all of our days. We all share the top 2 reasons we need friends in our life.
One of the sweetest and most genuine examples of a rich friendship would be between Jonathan and David. In 1 Samuel 18, Jonathan is described as loving David “as his own soul.” Shortly after, the two friends make a covenant. Jonathan gives his robe to give to his friend Jonathan as a gesture of kindness. This embodies the kind of friend we hope to have and long to become. Here are some questions to ponder and mull over.
TAKEAWAYS
Do you have friendships that are centered around Jesus? If not do you know someone who knows Jesus and can help you know him too?
What makes you feel truly loved?
How do you show love for others?
Do you have friends that you love as if they were your own soul?
2. The Desire to be Fully Loved
Throughout my life I couldn’t make many friends because of how introverted and shy natured I was. But the friends I did have knew who I truly was. But often times, this didn’t equate to them loving me well. I would be made fun of behind my back, left out of gatherings, or just ignored whenever someone “cooler” or more popular would come along. This shattered every piece of my heart because they were the ones who I trusted with my everything. We all share the top 2 reasons we need friends in our life.
Finding a True Friend
Once I went off to college, things radically changed for the better. I found someone who loved me despite my pride, arrogance, and covetousness. He knew everything about my past, who I am now, and the poor choices I would make in the future. Who could delight in me despite knowing the reality of who I was?
It was the savior of the world, Jesus Christ. He became my redeemer, my stronghold, and the cornerstone and motivation behind everything in my life. And this is or can be true for anyone who trusts and believes in Christ Jesus and his finished work.
Does God Love Me?
God does not love a future version of you, he loves you right now. He fully knowsnevery sinful act you have committed yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is a God who is slow to anger and rich in mercy.
You are God’s chosen child! But, what does this mean?
- You can live your life knowing that God delights in you!
He brought me out into a spacious place;
Psalm 18:19
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
- You can live a life full of joy!
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;even at night my heart instructs me.
Psalm 16:11
- You can have peace amidst the storms of life.
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
- You can live a life marked by the fruit of the spirit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Why would God grant so much grace to us?
Because he loves us with a holistic love like no other person can or ever could. We all share the top 2 reasons we need friends in our life.
In John 17, Jesus is praying a lush and sincere prayer on behalf of his bride (the church). Verse 23 encapsulates the reason he does this:
“I am in them and you are in me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.”
John 17:23
The love with which the father loves the son. We can have and experience this love through the spirit dwelling and moving in and through every aspect of our lives.
- God gives us his spirit.
- He provides grace with forgiveness.
- He sustains us for eternity so that he may get the glory and we receive the joy.
- This is the epitome of what it means to be loved perfectly.
Here are some takeaways to help you with your walk with God.
- Have you ever had a longing for more but didn’t know how to fill it? Matthew 11:28-30 gives us the cure to this.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11: 28-30
2. What do you love about God that helps you remain joyful? Ask friends the same question!
3. Who do you have in mind that you can share the love of God with?
ENCOURAGEMENT
The things shared and said to pursue in the story of scripture may seem daunting or unrealistic to you. Some of you may have been hurt by people claiming to be Christians. You may have even been hurt by those who claim to be the church. However, it is likely that none of these people represent any of the fruits of the spirit listed above. Perhaps they were people who did not understand the love of Jesus at all. Please don’t let the weakness of humans keep you from pursuing a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We all share the top 2 reasons we need friends in our life. Only Jesus is our hope that makes us able to shine His light to the world!
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28 -30
The realities of life can be severely overwhelming but here are two pieces of scripture that can put ease to our restless souls.
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
1 Corinthians 10:13
Jesus is Your True Friend
I can not urge anyone more fervently to repent and believe in Christ with any more of a genuine heart. God sent his only son to live a perfect sinless life, and to die on a cross because of the sins that you and I have committed so that we may be reconciled back to himself for all of eternity.
This does not mean we will have an easy life, but it does mean we have a God who is with us in every avenue of life through which we will venture.. My prayer for you is that you may see the goodness of God and live a life devoted to spreading his beauty among the world. Always remember that:
“whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
I invite you to watch the Great News for You video on this page. This video can change your life. – past, present and future. May God bless you and keep you.
