As a continued post from last week https://shelteredingrace.com/index.php/2020/02/03/nobetterfriendthanjesus/
We need each other. That is a fact.
But friendship is hard. Relationships are hard. Satan knows the power of “each other”, and he does everything to try and separate.
Two are better than one though. And our greatest friend we should have is Jesus. Every celebration. Every tear. Every heartache should be brought to Him–FIRST. He will never fail you.
And He, while leaving his heavenly home and came here on earth, faced many disappointments when dealing with His friends. Peter, denying Him three times. Judas betraying Him. And we hear about these things (some were warnings and didn’t happen yet) all in Matthew 26.
….in Gethsemane, where he asked Peter and two sons of Zebedee to “Sit here while I pray.” And He even poured out His heart to them. “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” He was hurting. He was troubled . They saw him walk forward, falling on HIs face, and praying words “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Heartfelt words.
But they slept.
“What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
And He went again a second time, praying “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
But when He returned, even in His agony, His earthly friends had failed Him. They were sleeping.
This time, for the third time, he left them sleeping and went out praying the same thing.
“Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.”
His friends……I can’t but help but think the anguish he had over the disappointment here…especially before He was giving His life for them. For you.
More than likely, you have felt this same disappointment from your “friends”. Maybe someone “left” you in your time of need. Maybe someone “dropped” you for others. Maybe you have been betrayed just like Jesus was.
The truth of the matter is–look inside. Are you flawed? Then, you know what, other humans here on earth will be too.
We can’t expect perfection. We ourselves are not perfect.
There will be a time of joy. There will be a time of pain. There will be a time of peace. There will be a time of turmoil. There will be a time for boldness. There will be a time for silence. There will be a time for standing up with you. There will be a time of betrayal. There will be a time of togetherness. There will be a time of needing to part ways.
Evil will find its way into relationships because Satan attacks things that are good. He can’t stand it.
So how can we combat this roaring lion?
Be in control of YOU.
Loving one another (John 13:24), being devoted to one another (Romans 12:10), living in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16), building up one another ( 1 Thess. 5:11), forgiving one another ( Ephesians 4:2), bearing one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2), considering others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3), comforting one another (1 Thess. 4:18), exhorting one another (Hebrews 3:13), showing hospitality (1 Peter 4:9), praying for one another (James 5:16), confessing our faults to one another (James 5:16), looking to the interests of one another (Philippians 2:4), teaching one another (Col 3:16), caring for one another (1 Cor. 12:25), serving one another (Gal 5:13), and honoring one another above ourselves (Romans 12:10).
Be the friend you want encircling you.
