And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
Many years ago now, a man I knew well contacted me and, in tears, asked me, “Will you be my friend?”
This was a man whose friendship I would have cherished. He was manly, hard-working, and given to spiritual things. I liked him as a person and respected him as a man. But I had witnessed his slip away from the things of the Lord.
I responded that I would be honored to be called his friend and thought of him as my friend. But I said my focus in life was the Lord and His church. I told him that a close friendship would have to be built around God’s house. It was not what he was looking for. He wanted me to be his hunting and fishing friend. He wanted someone to hang out with at the ocean who would have a Christian testimony. He wanted to be around a Christian. He just didn’t want to be around the church too much. Needless to say, though I still count him a friend, I disappointed him.
My Biblical direction comes from this passage. Titus had a deep, inward affection for the people of the church in Corinth
- Because they received him, and more
- Because of their obedience and
- Because of their fear and trembling
Believers cherish those who pour themselves into the things of God. They are our deepest friendships. Those who move away from the things of God we hold dear also move away from us. It’s not that we love them less. We love the Lord and the things of the Lord too much to move away from them.
To my readers:
Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.
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