You've Got a Friend in Me

John 11:4-7
When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

A friend’s a friend forever... 

Reunion class of 1979

Krista, Debbie, and I drove in the wind and rain to Grayson, Kentucky, to join friends we’d known for forty-plus years. The alumni reunion was taking place over the weekend, and we looked forward to spending time with our forever friends.

Our crew of teenage girls met in 1975, while some of us knew each other before we arrived on the campus of Kentucky Christian College. That year in the girls' dorm, God bound us together. Over the course of time, we went our separate ways. I kept in touch with a couple of the girls through letters and brief visits, but it wasn’t the same, until several of us gathered at Helen’s house (she and Terry stayed in Grayson) several years ago. Through Facebook, we’d found each other again, and when we gathered, it was like we’d never been apart.

Like this year, we sang songs, shared prayer needs, hugged, and loved on each other. My soul needed the restoration of these dear friends.

In John 11, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus needed Jesus. Lazarus was sick to the point he died, but Jesus, in His wisdom and knowledge, knew Lazarus would live. Without the dear friendship with Jesus, Lazarus would have stayed in the tomb. When Jesus arrived, Mary questioned why he took so long. This is the time Jesus wept. The bond between Jesus, Mary, and Martha brought the sister’s comfort, and the love Jesus had for Lazarus raised him from the dead.

Our friendships on earth won’t bring people back to life, but they can restore a hurting heart or a weary soul. Fellowship with my friends, who believe Jesus is Christ and God is our Father, fills my soul with joy. I pray you have friends like mine, but more than anything, I pray you are friends with Jesus.

Seek Jesus and fellowship with believers. Jesus listens and loves.

 

Restoration

1 Corinthians 3:16
Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? 

Proverbs 24:3-4
By wisdom a house is built,
    and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
    with rare and beautiful treasures.

I'm fascinated by this truth—when a house is abandoned, it falls in to disrepair.

As my husband and I drove around the city, we noticed so many abandoned homes. It was sad to see places that once housed people in such poor repair. I thought about the laughter, shared meals, and life that once dwelled there. Kind of like a person who loved God then turned away from him. An emptiness of neglect fills the space.

HGTV and other channels are filled with television shows about restoring neglected and dilapidated houses. On Maine Cabin Masters, the carpenters restore cabins for folks who want a safe and beautiful place to relax. At the beginning of each episode, we see the damage done by animals, rot, and time. Chase Morell and his team of Mainers start with demo day where they strip the house down to the bones, and remove all the nastiness. Before they can start the remodel, they reset the foundation and make sure the house is secure. Once that's finished, they transform the place into a lovely, livable space.

1 Corinthians reminds me my body is God's temple, or his home. Like a house, my body can fall into disrepair. Maybe I haven't taken care of my physical needs. I'm sick and don't seek the proper care, or I fail to exercise like I should. I'll feel the effects of the neglect. What if I haven't taken time to keep myself mentally alert or healthy? My anxiety causes me to worry. What if I ignore my spiritual needs or step away from God into sin? My soul feels abandoned and empty. When that happens, I'm broken and distraught.

When I suffer from spiritual neglect, I first need to restore my relationship with God, seek forgiveness and rebuild my spiritual foundation. Without a firm foundation the house will crumble and fall. Jesus, the one who shores me up, gives me a solid base. Through Bible reading and prayer, the Holy Spirit speaks to my soul with wisdom and understanding. God secures my foundation, and I fill up with his rare and beautiful treasures. His hope and grace pour into the spaces of what was once an empty, desolate place. God wants to dwell in his temple with the people He loves.

Invite God to dwell in you.