Canyon Ridge Christian Church Podcast

When you commit to being friends with someone, it's a big deal! Having friends is like saying, "I choose you," which is worth celebrating! The book of John tells the story of a deep friendship between Simon Peter and Jesus and how Jesus celebrated this friendship. That's a great illustration of His hope for your friendships and His friendship with you! As this series comes to a close, take some time to celebrate the good friendships in your life, especially your friendship with Jesus!

Doesn't it feel great to be told you were wrong? Nobody likes to be corrected, but good friends offer healthy correction because they know better things are ahead. The Bible is full of examples of how Jesus offers healthy correction to His friends. His correction always made sure that the relationship was more important than the problem they were facing and helped his friends become better. He wants to do the same thing for you! He wants to meet you where you are broken and walk with you to somewhere better.

Who in your life has shown up really well for you? Better friends endure! Endurance is putting one foot in front of the other again and again, counting on what God will do next. Think of how you can become the type of person who endures with God and others, especially when life gets hard! Maybe, start by thinking of a story of God's faithfulness in enduring with the people in your life.

What do you call it when only one person is committed to a friendship? Stalking! Friendships only deepen and grow stronger when both people are committed to partnering, working, and being together. The Bible is full of stories where God invites people to partner with Him to do things they never thought possible and grow their friendship with Him. How have you seen this play out in your own life? Where can you offer and invite contributions from God and others to build better friends in your own life?

Think about the first time you introduced your best friend as your friend. Something about calling someone a "friend" is a powerful affirmation and commitment. So, what about your friendship with Jesus? In the book of John, Jesus called you His friend! He is committed to you! So, how would you define your relationship with Jesus?

Do you trust people easily? It can be easy to build walls and defenses to limit people's access to really know you, but something special happens when you open up and allow people to get to know you. Vulnerability creates deep friendships! God wants this type of friendship for you, and he also wants this type of friendship with you! God already knows, and the best part is, He still loves you! You can embrace being vulnerable and secure anyway with Him. When you acknowledge that you are LOVED anyway, and SECURE anyway, you can live far more honestly… with God and yourself and eventually with others.

How well do you know your best friend? That didn't happen by accident. There is a difference between knowing someone and thinking we know someone. Friendships take time, proximity, and curiosity to really grow. Now think about your friendship with God. Do you approach your friendship with Him the way you do with your best friend? What would happen if you started thinking about knowing God the same way you begin to know someone rather than something?

How do you look at your relationship with God? Some people look at God as a sort of boss or coach, looking for good behavior or solid performance. What would happen if you began to see Him as a friend? Look at what Jesus says in John 15. This passage shows that Jesus lived life with his friends and called it what it was-friendship! And He wants to have that same type of friendship with you! Changing the way you view your friendship with God could change every relationship in your life and make you a better friend.

What is your resolution for 2022? If these past few years have taught us anything, we NEED each other! The book of Hebrews gives a great reminder that you need good people in your life who will point you in the direction of Jesus! Life can be challenging, and it can be too easy to compromise your character or convictions when you try to do it alone. This year, resolve to find good people who will go through life with you.

Peace is the heart of the Christmas story. The army of angels burst into praise because with the arrival of Jesus came the promise of peace, the righting of wrongs, the full definition of Shalom. And so, these speak this blessing over mankind: peace on earth.