As I have been speaking with people, either on the phone, by text or various parking lot visits the thing I hear the most is how much people — young and old — are missing their friends.

And I agree. I have missed sitting face to face with friends, breaking bread together, properly catching up over a cup of coffee, and of course, just hugging them! During these isolating Covid times, I have truly missed the friendship connection.

I believe that friendships are one of the key elements of a blessed life. I also believe that to really experience the power of friendship, we need to be a great friend to others.

Scripture has quite a bit to say about friendship.

Proverbs gives us wisdom for navigating the complexities of our relationships. And it addressed the friendship relationship specifically .

For example, it teaches us:

what to look for in finding true friends (Prov. 13:20; Prov 22:24-25).
why loyalty is so important for cultivating friendship (Prov 18:24; 27:9–10).
That the most damaging thing to the friendship relationship is spreading secrets (Prov. 16:28).

Scripture teaches us so much more.

Would you agree that the attitudes of those you spend time with tend to rub off on you?

They do. And not only is that a biblical truth it is exactly what your mom told you growing up: When it comes to friendships, who you hang with matters. Actually, it matters a great deal. Friends should build us up and take us forward. “So choose your friends wisely”.

So over the next few weeks, let’s talk about friendships — the one’s we miss, the one’s that influence us and the one’s that enrich our lives for the better.

This week we are starting a brand new sermon series (click to Amberlea’s Youtube page) entitled: Friendship in the Time of Covid.

Let’s hear from you!

Send me a story about your bestie… perhaps something fun or crazy you did together; the story of how you met, or the reason why you are friends. Send me your favourite friendship story and I will include it in our next blog.

Send it to revmona@amberleachurch.ca.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. ” John 15:13-15