Friendship

What do we think when we think of friendship? Bonding with other people like ourselves? Happiness and fun times? Sisterhood? 

Friendship serves many purposes in our lives.  Friendships keep us from being lonely, and they helps us develop as loyal, trustworthy, and reliable individuals.  In the book of Ruth, Naomi and Ruth exhibit a wonderful friendship after Ruth's husband (Naomi's son) passes away. Ruth Chapter 1, verses 16-18 read...

"Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her."

In this passage, Ruth proclaims to Naomi that she will accompany her back to her home in Israel, and she refuses to let Naomi go alone.  She claims to follow Naomi wherever she goes and to live her life as Naomi lives her own life.

Like many friendships that we are a part of, we are drawn towards people who have experienced the same hardships as us.  Naomi and Ruth became closer at the loss of Ruth's husband, and their friendship brought them joy and peace even though they had suffered a loss.

As we continue to grow in our relationships and become closer to the people around us, let us reflect on the support and encouragement that our friendships give us.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up."

Romans 12:10

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Acceptance

What does it mean to be accepted?  Does it mean to have wonderful friends who love you no matter what? Or maybe it just means that you get invited? Or perhaps it means that you have officially accomplished your goals of going to college or grad school?

The Lord's acceptance of everyone and society's refusal to accept certain people are revealed in the story of Zaccheus. The reading this week comes from Luke 19:1-10...

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

In this story, Zaccheus is a tax collector, looked down upon by most everyone else in Jericho. However, Jesus did not hesitate to accept him and forgive him for his sins. Let us keep in mind the Lord's acceptance of everyone while we carry out our day-to-day tasks. What better way to show the acceptance and love of Jesus Christ than by accepting people in His love, ourselves?

John 6:37

 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

Romans 15:7

 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Jesus Loves Me, This I know

When we begin a new semester in college, even when we're beginning our first semester in Auburn, we are overcome with happiness and excitement. We're happy to be back with all of our friends, meet new people, and decorate our dorm rooms and houses. Even with all of our excitement, though, we sometimes feel lonely and helpless. We get caught up in how difficult our classes are, how much homework we have, the less and less time we have to be with our friends, and scuffles with our roommates. However, in the times we feel like no one knows how it feels to be burdened with countless assignments and that no one cares about how we feel, we need to remember Christ's love for us. Keep in mind Ephesians 3:18-19...

"And I pray that you and all God's holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ's love-how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is. Christ's love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God."

Concentrate on the Word, and know that Christ's love and care for us is vast. When we know that Christ loves us, then we can find fulfillness in our lives. Know that He loves you, and know that the Lord has placed brothers and sisters in Christ in our lives that show us His love.