Daily Bible Reading: Acts 19
Weekend Bible Reading: Saturday: Acts 20; Sunday: Acts 21
Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.
Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ~ John 15:13-15
A friend loves at all times. ~ Proverbs 17:17
There are so many things that pull us in so many directions. We all have “commitments” and “priorities” that seem to overwhelm us or at minimum seem to be stretching us thin. Our days are rolling into the next week and our months are spinning by on fast forward. I mean we’re almost into the second month of a new year! Have you kept your resolutions for the past three weeks? I certainly haven’t, I didn’t have the time to make them. The question then arises, how do we find time to meet the challenges Pastor Ben has presented to us?
Our mission at Timberlake Church is to make more and better disciples in Jesus Christ. To do this, we need to take time… Take time to invest in our daily relationships. God made us social creatures and so often we are too busy to notice the people we pass on the street, at the coffee shop and often times we miss the emotions and needs of our own close friends and family as we are consumed with our own busyness.
The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the definition of a true friend in today’s scripture. Jesus is a pure example of a true friend. He took time to invest in people. Investing only happens when we intentionally take time to slow down, listen and see those around us. However small—a smile to a stranger—or big—carving out time to help a friend or neighbor. The only way that we can do this is to truly be in today’s moments; seeking to learn and grow in our relationships that God has placed in our path.
Today let’s take time to see those people around us that we can befriend, that we can be in a relationship with, that we can share a moment with because when you do, you are investing in God’s plan and in God’s people. A great step you can take to go even further is joining a growth group at church. If you aren’t part of one, this weekend look at the list of new groups, and sign up. Carve out a couple hours in your week for the next two months to invest in friendships developed around faith and God’s Word. It’s one great avenue to take time for others in God’s family. (www.timberlakechurch.com/findagroup)
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for your amazing Son who is an example of true love and pure relationships. Thank you for creating us in your likeness, a social being that cherishes relationships. I ask Father that as I walk through my day that You would slow my pace; that I would be able to be in the moment with those relationships and people that you place within my path. May my actions be an investment in Your plan and Your people.
Written by a team of Timberlake Church volunteers
to encourage you in your walk with Jesus.