Friendship

"In friendship...we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another...the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting--any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another." The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others. they are no greater than the beauties of a thousand other men; by Friendship God opens our eyes to them. They are, like all beauties, derived from Him, and then, in a good Friendship, increased by Him through the Friendship itself, so that it is His instrument for creating as well as for revealing." - C.S. Lewis

This quote got me to thinking back to this past years and all of the amazing friendships God has thrown my way, many of them from completely random and unexpected sources.  Honestly the value of true friendships cannot be underestimated. there is something almost magical about finding others who share some of the same dreams, passions, and loves as you.  Seemingly random people that come into your life,

And change it.

Change it in ways you never expect, they will laugh with you, cry with you, they will point areas of sin in your life, they will then help you overcome that sin, they will encourage you in your faith, they will tease you, they will go on crazy adventures with you, they will talk with you for hours about everything under the sun, they will just share in life with you, there will be high points, there will be low points, they will share their struggles with you, they will push you outside of your comfort zone, they will argue and fight with you, they will forgive you, they will let you learn from your mistakes, they will show you new beauty and truth about God, they will call you names and not really mean it, they will tell you they love and care about you and mean it.

The type of bond between friends cannot really be explained by this world, for as C.S. Lewis (I know I'm quoting him again, he's just that good!) says,

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art.... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”

Be thankful for your friends, don't take them for granted. Because, while logically you don't really need them, in all truth you do need them, and God has placed each one in your life for a purpose.

Don't ignore that,

God does know what he's doing....

You see it was Jesus that first loved and sacrificed in order be in a relationship with us

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." - John 15:12-15

So take the time for genuine friendship, for through our friendships and love we are called to display for each other that we live out the Gospel

"So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." - John 13:34-35

Go...Love...Now...