How many friends do you have? In the world of social media that doesn’t mean much really.
Last night I attended a birthday party and it was lovely to see the friends that the person had around her. Over the years they had gathered true friends.
Friendships is so important. Some have been blessed to keep their childhood friends into adult life and others find a friend in university and they stay friends for the rest of their lives.
Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in the 13th century sought to discover humanity’s original language – thinking it might be Hebrew, Greek or Latin. So he experimented by isolating a few infants. The nurses involved were sworn to absolute silence, and no one ever spoke to or in the presence of the children. The babies heard not a word, not a single sound from a human voice. Tragically, within several months. they all died. A lamentable result of a bizarre search for knowledge gone awry, the Emperor never learned the original language of humankind – but he did prove one thing: people cannot survive without relationships.
“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you.” (2 Peter 3 v 1)
Four times Peter uses the words, ‘dear friends’ in this chapter.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: v8
… dear friends … make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him, v14.
… dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard, v17
If you have a friend who contacts you, v1; or helps you to focus on the important things in life, v8; or wants you to be the very best you can be, v14; or who has your back and doesn’t want you to get hurt, v17; then you have indeed found a dear friend.
You may survive but you cannot thrive without friendships.
Be that friend to someone.
Missions Paul 