Saturday, September 29, 2007

Friendships

“Friend—we say it so casually, so loosely. How far we have digressed from the
original meaning of the word! Friend was the term used to describe those who
had become partners through a blood covenant, and it was really quite a costly
title.” …….Kay Arthur from How Can I Live.

Women need friends and relationships, but so often they are disappointed in them. As a leader of women, we should mentor and instruct about the value of true friendship.

Well, who are your friends and what are your expectations of them? What kind of a friend are you? These are difficult questions that we don’t often ask ourselves. It is easier to just expect our needs to be met and continue on in our own world. To really find out what a friend is we can study the Covenant and reading articles about it. God is truly our Covenant God and our best friend. It is much more than going to the mall together however.

In studying Abraham and his covenant with God, there was a blood covenant made in Genesis 15. The meaning of friend meant that there was a willingness to give their lives for each other and to share their possessions with each other. In God’s case, it was sharing Jesus, His son for us.

If we talk in discipleship or spiritual growth terms, we would be surrendering ourselves totally to God…..our lives, our families, our money and our possessions. It would all be His and He would be our faithful protector and provider. Now when we ask those two questions: Who is our friend and what are our expectations? or What kind of a friend are you?…………How is your answer transforming because of the difference in the modern definition and the Biblical definition?

God desires to be our friend….we are created with a need for this faithful friend. Until we can develop this friendship with Him, we are missing out on the blessing He has planned for our lives. Are you totally surrendered to God? When you come into this understanding of the Covenant relationship of friends, there will be less disappointment from our relationships with God and friends.