Friends in Faith

God has equipped us with many tools to use in the faith.  One of them is friendship. Friendship can edify and "season" our lives in a way nothing else can.  There are many examples of friendship and what it embodies displayed in the Bible. Let's take a look at a few.

Aaron and Moses were brothers but God used them as a team in leading the Israelites out of Egypt and in leading them spiritually.  Initially, Moses was hesitant. He didn't believe he was cut out for the job. God used someone already in his life to help him meet the task he was given and created to do. 
Moses did not believe he had the gift of leadership and felt he was not a good communicator.  

But Moses again pleaded, “Lord, please! Send anyone else.” Then the Lord became angry with Moses. “All right,” he said. “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on his way to meet you now. He will be delighted to see you. Talk to him, and put the words in his mouth. I will be with both of you as you speak, and I will instruct you both in what to do. Aaron will be your spokesman to the people. He will be your mouthpiece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say. And take your shepherd’s staff with you, and use it to perform the miraculous signs I have shown you.”
Exodus 4:13-17 NLT https://bible.com/bible/116/exo.4.13-17.NL

God gives us people who can help us with his mission for us and the world.  Moses had the ability. God knew he had the ability and God wanted him to use his ability. However, Moses was afraid and did not have the confidence needed to execute that ability. So what did God do? God brought his brother into the mix. God knew long ago that Moses would need a spokesperson and would need someone to be alongside  him during this time. God knew that Moses could do it but that he would not do it without that helper. God equips us with people to help us in our mission. It may become their mission as well or it may just be that they walk alongside us. 

Another example is the four friends who brought their paralyzed friend to Christ on the mat through THE ROOF!!! 

When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:1-5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.2.1-5.NLT

Can you imagine having friends that move such a barrier to get you to Jesus?   That's what true friends do. We are called to carry one another's mats and bring them to Christ when they are not strong enough.  That doesn't mean being pushy or bossy. Often it means praying for them, being Christ to them and sometimes it's just listening. 

We see another example of a characteristic of friendship in Paul and Timothy's relationship.  Paul was a mentor and an encourager to Timothy. He taught him about the faith and he took pride in  the mentoring he did so that Timothy could spread the news.  

This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.
2 Timothy 1:6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.1.6.NLT

Finally, another characteristic of friendship that we see displayed in the scriptures is loyalty and faithfulness.  Naomi was Ruth's mother in law. They had both lost their husbands and Naomi planned to travel away and told Ruth to stay back. She wanted her to move on as she still could have built a life with another man.  Ruth would not have any part of this. She wanted to be with Naomi. She was faithful and wanted to walk through the fire with Naomi. 

But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”
Ruth 1:16-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/rut.1.16-17.NLT

We have been given  friendship as a gift.  We can be a friend and we can receive friendship.  It is a gift from God and friends are an important part of the joy of life.  Be a good friend. Be a strengthener, a mat carrier, a mentor and a faithful friend.  Pray for one another. Again, I ask that you pick someone in our church and pray for them. You do not need to let them know and it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. Watch what God does with just a friend’s prayer.  - Meghan DeGregory