* You can now watch a video of this message at: https://new.livestream.com/rickpina/live.
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our new mini-series entitled, “Growing in Grace.” A few days ago we started walking our way through 5-9 of Peter’s second letter. The Apostle Peter wrote, “So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books” (2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG). Today we will focus on the statement, “complementing your basic faith with… warm friendliness.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. To grow in grace you will need others. God never designed you to be a lone-ranger. I believe we all need others to fill critical roles in our lives. For example, I briefly discuss three critical roles that should be filled in your life. You need a “Paul.” This is a mentor, a guide, or possibly even a spiritual father. This person is someone who already is where you want to be and who is willing to invest his or her time, energy and effort into you. Having a Paul gives you someone to look up to. But if someone is pouring into you, you will need someone to pour into. Therefore, you need a “Timothy.” This is someone you can mentor; someone who wants to be where you already are, and who is willing to open the door of their heart to your counsel. Having someone you can look up to it critical, and having someone who looks up to you is great, but you also need people in your life who you can look out to, who are operating on your level. These are divinely connected peers. I call this person a “Jonathan” or a “Barnabas.” This person is on equal par with you and God will bless you to share life experiences together. You will be able to keep this person sharp and they will do the same for you.
2. To have friends you must show yourself friendly. Solomon said, “For a man to have friends he must show himself friendly, and there are friends who will stick closer than a brother” (Prov 18:24). The emphasis is on showing yourself friendly. The Roman poet Publius Ovidius Naso (aka Ovid), said: “The way to be beloved is to be lovely.” While this may seem obvious, as many proverbs do, it often goes overlooked. If you want to create and cultivate friendships you must be sociable, welcoming and warm. No one wants to befriend an inhospitable, antagonistic and unreceptive person.
3. True friendship is a wonderful blessing. We all need friends who will stick close, listen, care, and offer help when it is needed, in good times and bad. In addition to my wife, who is my closest friend, God has given me two other best-friends. These men were there for me when I was at my lowest point. They never judged me, looked down on me, or forsook me. They prayed, fasted, and stood by me when I needed them the most. Over the years we have laughed, cried, and celebrated some of our most important moments together. While we may not live close to each other any more, we remain close and when we see each other, even after long periods of time, it is as if we had never been apart. You don’t get many of these “type” of friends. I have found mine, I pray you find yours.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for reminding me of the importance of warm friendliness. I heed Your counsel. I show myself friendly to others. I allow Your love and light to flow through me for all the world to see. As I grow in grace I will also grow in my ability to connect with and impact the lives of others. By faith I declare that I am the sociable, welcoming and warm believer You have called me to be. My life is a beacon of light in the midst of darkness. My heart permeates Your love in the midst hatred. My joy is contagious and it radiates hope in the midst of despair. You send people to me and You also send me to people. You lead me concerning the ones I am supposed to invest my time in and You also bless me to have others who invest in me. You have given me a “Paul,” who I can look up to and emulate, and who takes the time to coach, teach and mentor me. I have a “Timothy,” who I can pour into, and who has opened his/her heart to receive what I have to say. And I also have a “Jonathan,” who is on my level, who sharpens me as I sharpen them. Thank you Father for blessing me with great friends. I know the blessing friends can be and I enjoy the Godly relationships You have blessed me to have. My life is better because of the people You have blessed me to enjoy it with! I don’t have to run my race alone. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
