God's good friends relate a lot with God. Being filled with God, they have a lot of benefits to share with others.
1. Innocence.
A person who washed in water and soap once a year would stink enormously. Likewise if we only talk with God and do what He says only once a year, once a month or once a week, we stink spiritually. Stinking spiritually means that we are full of things like envy, self-centeredness, greed, sin etc. that disconnects relationships.
True friends want to stay connected. They bathe often to maintain the beauty of being innocent, free from the sins that disconnect. When we really want to know God and people, we can talk to God like African-American, Gospel singer Earnest Pugh does in his song, "Rain On Us," "Shower down. Shower down. Shower down. Send your Spirit, Lord. Rain. Rain on us." We need the deluxe wash of God on the inside to make us innocent, free from those things things that disconnect us from God and people.
A stinky unwashed or infrequently washed spirit corrupts self and other people and makes it difficult to maintain and grow friendships of the same sex, opposite sex, various races and in the circles of intimacy, friendship, participation and exchange. See my article "How to Catch and Keep Friends" for more discussion on the different types of relationships.
2. Purity.
How are you? Having been purified by God believers can answer with a customized version of, "Incredible and improving."
When God introduced us to Himself and we received Him, God began a continual purification process in us. No sickness nor struggle in our life need spoil us. God is able to purify the poisonous giving us and others a good life today and for eternity. It does not matter if the sickness or struggle is little or large, spiritual, intellectual, emotional and/or physical. African American, Gospel singer DeWayne Woods was divinely purified from HIV. Woods sings in his song "God Still Heals," "I'm alive today to testify that God still heals."
When God purifies us, He connects us with more people. God has given Woods a platform to connect people with Jesus Christ and draw others closer to Him. The Apostle Paul cultivated multiple friends of a wide variety. Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 11:1 New Living Translation Bible, "And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ."
3. Knowledge.
In ancient Jewish wisdom water is a metaphor for knowledge. The facts of life can be found in the Word of God. Joshua 1:8 Amplified Bible says, "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success."
John Tillotson, a Christian leader of the 1600s, said, “Ignorance and inconsideration are the two great causes of the ruin of mankind.” Avoid ruin. Acquire the facts of life.
A fundamental fact of life is success is not possible without good relationships. God the Son Jesus Christ says in John 13:34-35 New Living Translation Bible, "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”
The facts of life cannot be acquired quickly. Learning how to live better with people is a life-time study. Participate in individual study of the Word of God and group study along with seminars, CDs, DVDs, classes and other ways to learn as much as you can about what God has to say. We cannot do good if we don't know it. Contact me at my email address michefrancesjackson@gmail.com to participate in my Thursday relationship group.
4. Spiritual Insight.
Spiritual insight is being inspired and empowered by God to understand and to do what He says to do. Every quality of God is interconnected. We cannot work one aspect of the Word of God to the exclusion of other aspects. If we just focus on one thing, then we get out of balance. The devil loves out of balance people. 1 Peter 5:8 Amplified Bible says, "Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour."
5. Longsuffering.
When God first introduces Himself to us, He comes to live inside us, but He does not do away with our sin nature. We cooperate with God to allow Him to control and manifest greater parts of Himself through us connecting others to God and ourselves while also overcoming external obstacles.
Chinese Christian author, speaker and church leader Watchman Nee suffered sickness, poverty, church conflicts and imprisonment until death to celebrate Christ inside him and to share Christ with others. Nee had a chance to stay out of Communist China, but he didn't take it and said about his decision, “If a mother discovered that her house was on fire, and she herself was outside the house doing the laundry, what would she do? Although she realized the danger, would she not rush into the house? Although I know that my return is fraught with dangers, I know that many brothers and sisters are still inside. How can I not return?”
6. Patience.
Just because we were impatient in the past doesn't mean that in the future we will not be calm and steady through temptation and God gaining greater control of us. If we are chasing God, celebrate where we are while seeking to go further.
Paula White, senior pastor of Without Walls International Church in Florida, writes in her book Simple Suggestions for A Sensational Life, "Too many people today are predicting their end based on their beginnings. In life the most important thing is not where you start, but where you finish. I am so thankful that God can interrupt a person's life and change the destiny of that person for His good. God does not use your past to determine your future. . . so why should you?"
A mother wanted her daughter to wear some other color than white for her bridal gown because her daughter got pregnant out of wedlock and was marrying someone other than her baby's father. The daughter is a Christian, asked God for forgiveness, ceased having sex outside of marriage and is growing spiritually. White is a perfectly appropriate color for her bridal gown. When God forgives, we have no reason to hang onto the past and every reason to move forward at His pace in His pleasant manner.
7. Kindness.
Kindness searches and seeks to remove those areas where we are cheating people. In the dissolution of marriages and other romantic relationships, some times one partner will fail to pursue copious visitation with their children. In doing so they are communicating to their children that they don't want them. God created us to receive and to give love. Mother Teresa said, "There is much suffering in the world--physical, material, mental. The suffering of some can be blamed on the greed of others. The material and physical suffering is suffering from hunger, from homelessness, from all kinds of diseases. But the greatest suffering is being lonely, feeling unloved, having no one. I have come more and more to realize that it is being unwanted that is the worst disease that any human being can ever experience."
While we all need some time alone, much time is designed to be spent in relationship with other people. Open your heart especially to God and family.
8. Unfeigned Love.
Any old love won't do. We don't naturally know how to love. God has to teach us. 1 John 4:7, 19 New Living Translation Bible says, "Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. . . . We love each other because he loved us first."
The love of God inside believers is enthusiastic, extravagant, enlightened and designed to be given out in the same measure.
9. Truth.
Are we honest, above suspicion in all things? David writes in Psalm 26:2 Amplified Bible, "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; test my heart and my mind." That's a good, regular conversation to have with God. Sometimes the things we do seem innocent to us, but not to others.
A stash of condoms in your car glove compartment might be prep for passionate participation in the delightful, God-designed gift of martial lovemaking. However, if it's not typical of your temperament or explained behavior, what might a spouse stumbling upon this think?
10. Righteousness.
A relationship with God overflows into seeking to be a magnet God uses to draw people to Him. People aren't perfect but premium believers are always cooperating with God to prune off the corrupt and push out God's goodness.
We cannot do anything to separate ourselves from the love of God. Having received such good love why not seek to draw closer to God? Examine our behavior to see if it would pass the test of, "Would this please God?" Proverbs 12:28 Amplified Bible says, "Life is in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), and in its pathway there is no death but immortality (perpetual, eternal life)."
Relationships are always changing us. Choose spouses and friends well. A Russian proverb says, "Tell me who's your friend and I'll tell you who you are."
Please leave an on-line comment sharing the way God has benefited you with innocence, purity, knowledge, spiritual insight, longsuffering, patience, kindness, unfeigned love, truth and righteousness.
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