“Godly friends are walking sermons.” –Richard Sibbes
Do you desire to be strengthened in your Christian walk? Do you want to grow in your ability to discern the attacks of our prowling enemy? Do you need an additional aid in the process of sanctification? Then find, maintain, and cultivate a Christian friendship. God uses our believing friends to strengthen us. King Saul’s son, Jonathan, was a crucial source of encouragement in David’s life:
David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home. (1 Samuel 23:15-18)
The following questions are well-suited for a believer’s self-examination and for Christian conference. Have you forgotten about conference? Here is simple definition: Conference is a spiritual discipline that involves two to ten people getting together to discuss a variety of spiritual topics.
- The apostle Peter urged believers to “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) The Puritans realized that the presence of Christian friends greatly weakened the opportunity of this adversary to best us. (Eccl. 4:12) One anonymous Puritan author wrote:
“Lose not thy friend for slender cause,
But keep thy friendship still.
For if thy foe, thee friendless know,
Then will he work his will.”[1]
Do you have a Christian friend who serves as a source of strength, accountability, and occasional challenge? If so, pause, and give thanks to the Lord for such a treasure. If not, ask the Lord to direct such a friend into your life.
- Christian friends sharpen each other. They see our spiritual weaknesses. They can make us aware of areas where we are particularly vulnerable to temptation. We should take to heart their earnest counsel. (Proverbs 27:6, 9, 17) Ask a close friend the following question: “If you were the devil, where would you direct your attack against me?”[2]
Please consider these questions and Lord willing, we will see most of you on Sunday.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
[1] Author not given, cited in, Richard Rogers, A Garden of Spirituall Flowers Planted by Ri. Ro(gers), Will. Per(kins), Ri. Gree(nham), M. M. and Geo. Web(be). London: printed by T. S. for T. Panier, 1612, n. p. from the poem “Good Counsell.” See also George Swinnock, “The cruel pirate Satan watches for those vessels that sail without a convoy.” The Christian Man’s Calling, in Works, 2:383, also cited in Ore from the Puritans’ Mine, 491.
[2] Adapted from Vaughan Roberts, True Friendship, 58. For more on the topic of friendship, see Richard Baxter, The Christian Directory, in The Practical Works, 6:453-469; Saints Everlasting Rest, see also Hugh Black, Friendship. New York: Fleming H. Revell, 1903. C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves, etc.; Steve Wilkins, Face to Face: Meditations on Friendship and Hospitality. Moscow, ID: Canon Press, 2002.