Step Five

Make Christian Friends,

Someone has said that the ornaments of a house are the friends who frequent it. After you become a Christian, you may find a need for some new friends.

Don't totally abandon your old friends. You'll want to witness to them about your new faith in Christ. 

But when you become a new creation in Christ Jesus-when old things pass away and all things become new-you may experience a sudden coolness on the part of your old friends, and many of them will likely abandon you. 

Make sure you choose your new friends carefully. And be sure that they are not like your old friends who may have turned away. 

Proverbs 4:14-15 tells us: "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on." 

“On the choice of friends our good or evil depends." - John Gay

Your new friends will establish a setting in which you will build your new life. Make sure it is a righteous setting 

Choose friends who will help you through the ups and downs of your new Christian life. These kinds of friends will joyfully sing with you when you are on the mountain top and silently walk beside you through the darkest valley.

Aristotle said that a friend is a single soul dwelling in two bodies. 

But Christian friendship goes deeper than that. Two Christian friends have the added advantage of the same Spirit residing in each of them- the Holy Spirit. "And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us" (1 John 3:24). Paul mentions the "fellowship of the Spirit" (Philippians 2:1). He also mentions that we are of one Spirit, the Holy Spirit. 

Your new friends can be a blessing and encouragement to you. Their friendship doubles your joy and divides your grief. 

They can be a support for you; they can share their spiritual wisdom with you. The next best thing to being wise yourself is having a circle of friends who are wise. Ask them to help you understand what you need to know. 

They can also help you in many other ways. They can help you find answers to your questions. They can help you in your Bible study. They can assist you in locating a church where you can worship and grow in the Lord. 

Making Christian friends is an important step for a new Christian. But what if you don't know any Christians? Take the next step!