Depend on God's Spirit, not your own strength.
| posted 1/30/2009
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The thought of building a friendship with someone you naturally dislike seems overwhelming. You can't imagine having phone conversations, chats over coffee, or doing the shared activities that go into making a friendship work. But you can face the thought of inviting this person to coffee once. And with God's help, you can take the next step after that.
When Zerubbabel laid the foundation for the temple in Jerusalem, he might have wondered what he'd gotten himself into. For an overview of just some of the obstacles he faced, read the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. But the Lord promised Zerubbabel that his small beginnings would be capped by the temple's most important stone. How? Not by Zerubbabel's power or strength, but by the strength of the Lord's Spirit—a Spirit powerful enough to flatten any mountains that get in the way. That powerful Spirit will also help you take the first step of friendship. (See also Ezekiel 2:1-7; Mark 2:13-17; 1 Corinthians 10:31-11.)
Good Words to Remember:
"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 4:6
Today's Challenge:
What "first steps" of friendship can you take this month?
Copyright 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.
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