Developing Friends Worth Having - Part 2
Colossians 4:7-18
7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts. 9 He is coming with Onesimus, our faithful and dear brother, who is one of you. They will tell you everything that is happening here.
10 My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)11 Jesus, who is called Justus, also sends greetings. These are the only Jews among my co-workers for the kingdom of God, and they have proved a comfort to me.12 Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. 13 I vouch for him that he is working hard for you and for those at Laodicea and Hierapolis. 14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demassend greetings. 15 Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
17 Tell Archippus: “See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.”
18 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remembermy chains. Grace be with you.
Developing Friends Worth Having - Part 2
I have been greatly influenced by a speaker I heard at a Bible Camp I was working at one summer. It was the second day of camp and the speaker shared a prayer he says every morning when he walks up…
“Lord Jesus, with every person I come in contact with today, help me to listen well and then see the ways I can be an encouragement to them.”
So, during the rest of that week at camp, I watched this speaker to observe how he interacted with others. I was amazed to see him often engaged in a conversation with someone. It commonly appeared that the other person spent the majority of the time talking while he just listened and stayed focused on them. What was remarkable to me was that almost every person left those conversations with a smile and sense of renewed vigor. By the end of the week I had come to the conclusion that this speaker was truly serious about his prayer. I knew I had to find out his secret of how he did this.
I was able to sit down with him and asked him, “So many people wanted to talk to you this week, more than I’ve seen them want to talk to any other speaker during this summer at camp. I’m intrigued about how you do that with such focus and compassion. What is your secret?”
“There are four things I try to remember in every conversation”, he said. Here is the summary of each one:
“Number one – this person is VERY important to God, so they are important to me. I ask myself, ‘does this person see in me how God truly values them?’”
“Secondly – I need to be quick to listen and slow to speak. This helps me understand the person better.”
“Thirdly – I am always praying while listening: Lord, what does this person most need at this time? Give me wisdom to discern that and speak that into their life.”
“Fourthly – this person deserves my full attention. I try to block out all other distractions and just tune into them and God at the same time.”
He then shared story after story about how God orchestrated numerous opportunities because he was LOOKING for them throughout the day. I liked that pattern so much, it has become part of my prayer life as well over the years. AND… when I truly practice this, what a difference it has made!
Join us this Sunday as we look at part two of developing friends worth having!
Grateful for you,
Pastor John