Genuine Relationships
This Week's Theme: Friends to Keep
Saturday, March 31, 2001
 1 of 1
Q. How do you explain your 25-year relationship with Bill Lane?
A. It wasn't because I was so much fun to be with, or had some special maturity that made him want to spend time with me.
Actually, when we began our walks, I was amazingly immature in many ways. But Bill hung in there with me as I grewwilling to experience the growing pains with me. In rare moments he let me share in some of his growing pains too.
Being a "soul-friend" as Bill called it, is the only way to experience genuine relationship. It expects so much more of us than a superficial relationship demands. A soul-friend first and foremost loves in a way that desires the best for the other person. This kind of love then demands that we play a part in our friend's journey to grow into the best that Christ has for him. The demands on us may include loving confrontation on one end, ready forgiveness on the other and vast amounts of patience in between.
Isn't that an awfully tall order?
Yes, but as always, Jesus is the greatest example of this. He's always available, always listening, always ready to forgive, yet He feels the pain of rejection. Jesus loved us so deeply that He was willing to go to the cross for us, to make possible our friendship with Him. He considered it a joy to endure the pain that was required in order that we might walk as friends. There could be no greater "soul-friend" than the One who first saves our souls.
Michael Card, a singer and songwriter, lives in Franklin, Tennessee.
Adapted from: The Walk (Nelson, 2000). 1 of 1
God, I need Your people to help me know You better. Give me courage to be honest and vulnerable.
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