Student Ministry - October 2019
Dear Church Family,
The Fall season is officially here. While the days may still be hot, there is an unmistakable change in the weather evidenced by the cool nights, a slight change in the color of the leaves, and the decelerated growth of the lawn. Most people love the Fall. It is a time for friends and families to get out and enjoy the mild atmosphere that the season brings. What with football games, bonfires, hayrides, pumpkin picking, camping, and of course the Fall Festival, there is no shortage of ways for friends to spend time together.
Have you ever wondered why we like to do things with friends? Think about it. None of the fun activities we like to do during the Fall require a friend to go with you. In fact, that is not just true of Fall events, but most events throughout the year. We don’t necessarily NEED other people to enjoy a football game, or a bonfire, or the Fall Festival. So why are those things so much better when we are accompanied by our friends? Why is a hard job more manageable when your co-workers are more like friends? Why is a vacation with others better than one by yourself? Why do we spend time with others on the weekend instead of just spending it alone? Seriously, think about it. Why do we care so much about other people?
The answer is that we are created as relational beings… it’s just a part of our DNA. From a biblical perspective we know that friendship is the foundation of any true relationship (Ecclesiastes 4; John 15). For a marriage to be a good one, the spouses must be friends. To purposefully befriend each other is the only way for siblings to get along. For one to know God, he must call Jesus his Lord and Savior, yes; but he must also call Him his friend. True friends don’t just spend time together. They sacrifice for each other, forgive each other, give accountability to each other, share their struggles with each other, enjoy life with each other, reach out to each other, include each other, pray for each other, correct each other, and are patient with each other. Jesus is the perfect friend. Before we ever cared about Him, He did all these things to and for us. His ultimate act of friendship was exactly what He said it would be, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). He was so committed to his broken, sinful, undeserving friends (that’s you and me too) that He died for them so that they could have life in Him. There is no better friend than Jesus. But all those who are friends with Jesus are becoming more like Him, even in the area of friendship.
All the things that friends do for each other can be done while at a football game, or roasting marshmallows around a campfire, or eating donut burgers at the Fall Fest. The question is, are we choosing to BE a friend, or do we just want others to be friends to us? Will we be like our best friend, Christ, or will we wait for others to reach out first. Be careful… you might end up waiting a long time. Thankfully Christ is always your friend, and He always reaches out to you first. My prayer is that we will be more like Him and intentionally pursue others the way He does!
Sincerely,
Brian Van Doren