Christian Friends!

Dear Readers around the World!

God’s Peace!

Our long journey around the USA continues, as I am doing presentations for The Foreign Mission in many different ALCA churches. The travel can get a little tiring, but it is such a great joy being with Christians in so many places.

As I pondered what topic to write on this morning, I thought writing about the benefits and joys of having Christian friends would be appropriate. It has been so comforting to find so many welcoming Christians on this journey.

Sometimes we can feel like we are alone in our problems and struggles. Remember that the Word of God says Hebrews 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

As Christians, we are not in this battle alone. There are other believers we can turn to with our problems, with our struggles. If we have sins that we have fallen into, remember, these Christian friend have the power of the keys given to us by our Lord Jesus when he said, . Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
It is a wonderful time that we live in when brother can turn to brother and say, thy sins be forgiven thee.
We are encouraged in Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. What a beautiful thing it is if we can live peaceably with all men.

2 Peter 3:14 ….. be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. Our peace is complete in the Lord Jesus Christ. We do not need to be, and must not be in unrest and turmoil with men here on earth. If we have this problem, we need to search our hearts, and ask the Lord to reveal to us, where we are going wrong. Have I strayed from the love of the brethren because of something I have done?

The scripture also gives us these words of instruction.
James 4:11
Speak not evil one of another, brethren….
2 Thes. 3:15
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

We are able to find so many such verses all throughout the Holy Word of God. Our Lord wants us to love one another. How then can we have troubles with other people and even other believers in our lives? I believe it is because we ourselves have not taken full heed to God’s Word. I know that some men are very hard to deal with, and can give us trouble that we did not cause. However, even in these times there is instruction for us in the Word of God. Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
You see, we need to look at other Christians as ones that can and will help us on our journey to be with our Lord Jesus in heaven one day. Do not look upon them with covetousness or jealousy. Rather, let us be refreshed by our brothers, as we read in
Philemon 1:7
For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

Be encouraged, all my dear brothers and sisters that know and believe by faith in the complete saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose robes are washed white in the blood of the Lamb, that one day soon, we will be united fully in Heaven! We will then have complete joy as together be praise and glorify our Lord eternally!