Still pondering my upcoming anniversary, I have been
thinking about the months that led up to my wedding day. David and I went from
friends, to special friends, to engaged, to married all within the same
calendar year. Because of this, many people on our Christmas card lists were
unaware of the events. That year we included a Christmas letter entitled, “Let
Me Introduce You to My New Best Friend!” This was our way of telling distant
friends and relatives of everything that had occurred during the year 1987. The
most important thing that we desired to share about this year was our new found
love and life commitment. Our best friend eclipsed any of the other occurrences
of that year.
We
also receive a new best friend when we come to Christ through receiving the
salvation He provided by His death on the cross and resurrection. Everything in
life changes with this new relationship. We no longer walk alone, but side by
side with Jesus. “and behold, I am with
you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very]
close and consummation of the
age. Amen (so let it be).” (Matthew 28:20b AMP)We have the Holy
Spirit living within us. “Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very
sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as
a Gift] from God?” (1
Corinthians 6:19 AMP) As the bride of Christ, we have married into the family
of God and now have a new, Heavenly Father. He has adopted us as His own. “And
because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [Holy] Spirit of His Son
into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father!” (Galatians 4:6 AMP)
Have we now also become so wrapped
up in this new relationship, that everything else seems less important? Do we
wish to tell all those around us about our best friend? In many ways this is
true, but sadly over time we often lose much of this zeal. It can become easy
to talk about nonessential or even nonsensical things more than that which is
of extreme importance. We can become accustomed to walking with God on a daily
basis and lose some of the awe and amazement that we first saw in each and
every moment. Even worse we can find ourselves talking more about problems and
trials than the amazing presence that God provides during these hard times.
Speaking to the church at Ephesus
the angel charged, “that you have left
(abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first
love]. Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the
inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first
you knew the Lord]” (Revelation
2:4-5 AMP) We can get so used to the presence of God in our lives that we no
longer are amazed at His faithfulness and love. Even when we find ourselves in
constant awareness of God’s goodness, we may be reluctant to share all that He
is doing for us.
Whenever the opportunity arises, I
brag on my husband’s best attributes. I am proud of him and not ashamed to tell
others about him. People who know me are aware of his importance in my life. I
proudly wear my wedding rings. However he is no longer my number one topic of
conversation. Over the years, I have reduced the amount of time I introduce David
into my conversations. My friends are probably quite happy with this, since in
those early months I could tie just about anything that was being discussed
back to him.
Have we reduced our introduction of
God into our conversations? How often do we talk about the amazing things that He
is doing? Can people see His presence in our lives? Do we take every
opportunity to brag on God’s faithfulness and love? Even when He is not the
initial topic of conversation, He should be seen and felt in all that we do and
say. We should never assume that others experience everything we do. We must
give voice to all that God means to us. The apostle Paul addresses reluctance
to speak about Jesus Christ. “Do not
blush or be ashamed then, to
testify to and for our Lord,”
(2 Timothy 1:8a AMP) We must always
remember and speak of the greatness of the salvation that we have been given and
its ongoing influence in our day to day life.
Be amazed
that God’s presence in your life every moment of every day. Don’t be afraid to
be the one of which others say, “Here we go again, he/she is talking about his/her
best friend and love. Be eager to say, “Guess what Jesus has said to and done
for me now?”
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