Friends – Day 6: Am I the Friend My Friends Should Have?

We've spent the week looking at friendship in God's design. Today the question turns inward: am I the type of friend my friends should be — or only the type of friend I expect my friends to be?

Scripture of the Day

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."

2 Peter 1:5–7 (NIV)

It's easy to list what we want from our friends: loyalty, honesty, time, encouragement. It's harder to ask what we're bringing. Peter's list is full of qualities that make for a good friend — goodness, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love — and he says to "make every effort" to add them.

Pastor and author Tim Keller describes love as seeing another person and getting a glimpse of what God is making them, then saying, "I want to be part of that." Good friends do this. They see who God is shaping a person to be, and they cheer that person on toward Him.

We also don't wander into the health or wholeness we're looking for. We walk in and toward it, one choice at a time. That includes the choice to be the friend someone else needs.

Reflection Question

If your closest friends described the kind of friend you are, what would they say? Where do you need to grow in goodness, perseverance, or mutual affection, and who in your life could you intentionally cheer on toward Jesus this week?

Prayer

Lord, search my heart. Show me where I expect more than I offer. Grow in me the qualities of a good friend — patience, kindness, perseverance, and love — and help me see my friends the way You see them, for who You are making them to be. Amen.

In His grace,

The Brook Church Miami