1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're glad to have you listening. 3 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 2: Today's topic is Friendships that Fan the Flame of your Face. 4 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:22,239 Speaker 2: We'll return with the devotional after a brief message from 5 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 2: one of our sponsors. Friendships that Fan the Flame of 6 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 2: your face Written and read by Carrie Eiberger. As iron 7 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 2: sharpens iron, so a friend sharpen's a friend, Proverbs twenty seven, 8 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 2: verse seventeen. There was a long shadow of a season 9 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,640 Speaker 2: in my life that I stepped out of with very 10 00:00:57,680 --> 00:01:01,959 Speaker 2: few friends. It was a dark and lonely stretch, a 11 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 2: time that I truly and desperately needed people. But because 12 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 2: of who I had chosen to surround myself with, I 13 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 2: didn't find the companionship, the support, and the sincere love 14 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 2: of genuine friendship. And I can't blame anyone but myself. 15 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 2: I wasn't seeking out the right people. I also didn't 16 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 2: find a friend in Jesus. Not that he wasn't there. 17 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 2: He absolutely always was, but I didn't call on him 18 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 2: or cling to him. Instead, I was hanging out with 19 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 2: and onto flimsy and empty relationships connected solely on shallow interests, 20 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:41,559 Speaker 2: people who didn't bring much beyond meaningless moments in fleeting, 21 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: artificial fun I look back, sorry and sad for that girl. 22 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 2: Has it ever been you? Have you found yourself regularly 23 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 2: surrounded by people you aren't sure you should call friends. 24 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: Maybe you could also recall longing for deeper connections than 25 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 2: what you then had, or maybe you currently wonder if 26 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 2: that's part of your story now, or perhaps, like me, 27 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 2: you've previously pursued faulty friendships too, but now have a 28 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 2: handful of people you've been abundantly blessed by and thank 29 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 2: God greatly for. I've certainly learned so much since that 30 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 2: past season. Most importantly, I've learned to seek God as 31 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 2: my number one. I've learned that Jesus has always, in 32 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 2: every season and from the beginning, wanted to be my friend, 33 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,080 Speaker 2: and that He is the absolute best friend, better and 34 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 2: more than any person could ever be, ever present, always listening, 35 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 2: constantly compassionate, unfailingly faithful, and unconditionally loving, provider, protector, peacemaker 36 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 2: and perfect shepherd. Additionally, I've learned to seek out and 37 00:02:55,960 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 2: serve God's children, his Church, and his kingdom. And I 38 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,919 Speaker 2: have learned that in time He places people in our path, 39 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 2: his people, regardless of the connections you have or lack thereof. 40 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 2: We all long for rich connection because that's the way 41 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 2: God designed us for community, and that's why Jesus here 42 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 2: on earth demonstrated a focus on fellowship with others. It 43 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 2: was part of his plan and purpose for his people. 44 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:31,000 Speaker 2: Proverbs twenty seven seventeen states as iron sharpens iron, so 45 00:03:31,160 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 2: a friend sharpens a friend. The amplified Bible version reads 46 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:40,720 Speaker 2: as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens and influences 47 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 2: another through discussion. I love how this version uses the 48 00:03:44,640 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 2: word influences, reminding us of the impact and significance of 49 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 2: the connections we make of those around us, and of 50 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 2: the friends we choose and surround ourselves with, seeking, gaining 51 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 2: and maintaining Christian friends who longside us are learning to 52 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 2: love more like Jesus. Can have an immorns influence and 53 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 2: impact on our lives. And though not one person is perfect, 54 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 2: what we share in common with brothers and sisters in 55 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: Christ is a desire to grow in Christ's likeness, to 56 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 2: love sacrificially, to be sanctified in holiness, good character, and 57 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: spiritual growth, To lay down our lives for others, to 58 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 2: carry each other's burdens, to lift up and encourage one 59 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 2: another intersecting faith in life. I pray not only that 60 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 2: you and I will seek, find and be sharpened by 61 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,960 Speaker 2: authentic Christian friendships, but that we will be christ Like 62 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: friends in return, even and especially to those who do 63 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 2: not know Jesus. We can be an invaluable influence and 64 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 2: sharpen them too. In fact, you could be just the 65 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 2: one to bring someone you encounter to Christ. As you 66 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,919 Speaker 2: continue to connect, spend more time with and invest in 67 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 2: those who have loved the Lord, those on fire for 68 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:10,000 Speaker 2: the Gospel and committed to growth. May these friendships span 69 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 2: the flame of your faith, maybe help you learn and 70 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 2: reflect the love of the Lord. Mayday grow your trust 71 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:24,719 Speaker 2: in God, thus increasing your joy and your peace in Him. 72 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 2: If you liked what you heard today, I think you 73 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 2: will love my latest book, When over Worry, Conquer what 74 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 2: shakes you, and Soar with the One who overcomes. You 75 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 2: can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. 76 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 2: I hope it blesses you. 77 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 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