Skip to main content

Balancing Discipleship & Friendship Jesus, the King of the Kingdom

Balancing Discipleship & Friendship Jesus, the King of the Kingdom

READ | John 11:1-45 Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus, the

one whom Jesus had raised from the dead, lived (John 12:1).”

Jesus, our Wayshower, was a very busy man. He spent a lot of time preaching and teaching in various cities. Training the disciples and answering their questions was a big part of his daily routine. His audience always needed him to perform another miracle such as turning the water to wine, calming the raging seas, healing the sick, raising the dead, or feeding the multitudes. Jesus’ To-Do List was full of giving sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the mute, or the restoration of limbs to the lame. Despite his heavy calendar of events, he took time with his friends.

Jesus loved the sibling trio of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. Their home in Bethany was a refuge for him from the demands of ministry. His friendship with them gave him the balance that he needed in his life. Due to other responsibilities, Jesus did not heal Lazarus when he was sick, and he did not arrive at the family home until four days after Lazarus’ transition. Although Jesus wept and was dealing with his own grief over the loss of his friend, he chose to be loving and supportive to Lazarus’ sisters. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Mary and Martha were no longer angry and sorrowful, they rejoiced in the power of family and friendship.

Are your friendships dying due to lack of attention? Are there friendships you let die that need to be resurrected? Do you have unhealthy friendships that need to be redefined? How can you transform dysfunctional relationships into harmonious friendships? The honest answers to these questions will empower you to balance your friendships with your other relationships (family, professional, and ministry).


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Refocus Your Faith: How to Overcome Distraction, Disappointment, and Discouragement

  Refocus Your Faith: How to Overcome Distraction, Disappointment, and Discouragement "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."   Galatians 5:6 (KSB)    With everything going on around us, it's easy to feel lost. Distractions come quickly, disappointments pile up, and discouragement sneaks in. We all face these moments. But even when we get off track, there is a way back and that path is through our faith, principles, and core values.  When you live your life anchored in principles, it gives you a compass for when the road gets unclear. Knowing your vision, your mission, and your core values makes it easier to realign when life feels out of control. But if you don’t know who you are, how can you get back to being your best self? If you don’t know what you stand on, what can you stand up on after a fall?    Clarity of purpose keeps you ...

There’s a Grace on Your Life

  There’s a Grace on Your Life "By grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."    Ephesians 2:8 (KSB)    In Ephesians chapter 2, one word stands out repeatedly: grace . But what is grace? Grace is God’s unmerited favor, His love poured out on us, not based on anything we've done or failed to do. It’s not about what we think or don’t think. It’s simply a gift. A beautiful, divine surprise.  Imagine receiving an unexpected bonus at work, you did your job, and suddenly you're given more than you earned. That’s grace. It comes when you least expect it and fills you with joy and wonder. This is how God extends His grace freely, abundantly, and lovingly.  Throughout Ephesians 2, Paul highlights how grace is woven into our salvation. “By grace you are saved” means you didn’t do it yourself. Salvation is the awakening in your spirit to the truth that  you are God's beloved .   ...
  Why Me? God’s Glory (Romans 8:18) Why? That's a question often in our Souls. Why is this happening to me? Why am I having this experience? Why am I facing this health challenge? There's an answer! Why am I having these relationship challenges? There’s an answer, and it’s the same one. Why am I having this financial challenge? There’s an answer! There’s an answer to every question in your Soul, and the answer is glory. The reason for every experience in your life is so that God can get the glory. The purpose of all our challenges is not to bring us down but to transform us and bring glory to God. Why am I having this test, this trial, this tribulation? So God can get the glory. Why am I experiencing this persecution, this headache, this pain? So, God can get the glory. Why am I witnessing this miracle, sign, or wonder? So, God can get the glory. Why am I having this challenge in my local assembly, in my ministry, in my business, and in my organization? So God can get the...