I never knew the importance of a Christ-centered friendship until college. Sure, growing up I had my "church friends" and my "school friends", and I knew the difference in the two. Those who I went to church with wouldn't feel uncomfortable if the topic of God and Christianity came into play, but after a small chat it would die out and move onto whatever was the next important thing said. I always felt I had solid Christian friends and they were the ones I felt good when I hung around- and vice versa. In middle school my friends' parents would debate on letting their child go somewhere until they found out I was going, and then it was A-okay. But even then, was I really that Christ-centered friendship that those people needed? Or was I just playing the part like everyone else.
Starting college was my first time being at a private Christian school and I was skeptical. With a picture of The Duggars in mind, I feared that those would be the kind of people I would be surrounding myself with. Those who dress much different than I, and who I would have to walk on eggshells with when I spoke, careful to not say anything offensive or accidentally utter a swear word. But this, was not the case.
I have made friends that for the first time I can say they have my best interest at heart. They put me before themselves and make sure I am in constant reminder of my creator and what he has done for me. When I screw up and feel like there is just no turning back to God, they push me forward and remind me that I am never too far from the love of Christ. As I studied 1 Peter 2 this week I was reminded that just like how Jesus is the living stone we build our foundation on, we alike are living stones built into a spiritual house. And what better way for us to work on being living examples of Christ, than to have people building us up as on our own we continue to tear ourselves down.
Life is the time of losing and finding yourself time after time and making the same mistakes you promised yourself you would never make again. But when these mistakes become the very things keeping you from Christ and pushing your relationship to the back burner is when you need to make a serious change.
"Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind." 1 Peter 2:2
God commands us to be the light and spread the light to all people, no matter your relationship with them, no matter if they use harsh words against you or use kind. The more we fill our lives with others who have the same heart for the Lord and the same desire to be that Christ centered friendship for each other, the more we will see change in our lives and our self. I have opened my broken and beaten heart to those who will read it. I have lifted my voice to those who are actually intent on hearing it and I am no longer ashamed of the life I live. I am not ashamed to admit my faults and my failures. I am not ashamed to be completely naked to those who are willing to see the real me and still stand beside me.
Lord, I pray that my heart will stay strong and my relationships will prosper. That I will find comfort in leaning on those who will bare it all with me. That my friendships founded on Christ will be long standing just like the love that I have witnessed to.
