21 Days to Sweeter FriendshipsSample

You’re Irregular People

I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-3, ESV

Think about the people in your life right now - friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers, and others. Of these people, with whom do you most enjoy spending time? Which are the most challenging and difficult to get along?

We all have favorite friends, and we have challenging friends. We must treat them all with grace and bear with all of them. Think about Jesus and the 12 disciples. Some of these guys were much easier to like than the others. However, Jesus treated them all with humility and gentleness.

Pastor T.D. Jakes suggested no one knew who the “betrayer” was in the group of 12 because Jesus never treated Judas any different from the rest of the guys. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, and He chose him anyway. For three years of ministry, Jesus handled and cared for Judas with grace. The other 11 disciples never suspected Judas because Christ always treated him with such dignity.

That is what we must do as well. At Thanksgiving dinner, when we’re seated next to that relative who absolutely drives us nuts, we must show grace. When confronted with the woman at church who makes us a little crazy, we are to deal with her in humility and grace. Why? Because God tells us to bear with others and be eager to maintain peace and unity in the Spirit.

How do we possibly treat everyone with grace? Lots of prayer, lots of time in the Bible, and deep breaths!

Prayer– Father, would You help me treat my favorites and my challenging people with equal kindness this year—especially over the holiday. Close friends and family can sometimes be the hardest to get along with. I ask for extra grace this year.

Reflect –As we conclude today, I want to invite you to make two lists. In the first list, write down the 4 to 5 people you love and appreciate most. Write down the 4 to 5 people who bug you, test you, and challenge you the most in the second list. Now go back and pray for every single one of these people. Ask God to bless them and meet their deepest needs.