In today’s blog post, I’d like to share with you all some simple tips on how to practically be a godly friend to other people around you.
So, let’s dive into the first tip!
Tip #1: Share Testimonies
Psalm 73:28 says:
But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works.
(Psalm 73:28, emphasis added)
As we’re learning to draw near to the Lord and learning to put our trust in Him, we will then glean testimonies of God’s faithfulness and goodness from our own lives.
And as the above psalm states, we will be able to testify and “declare” His works of goodness to those around us.
And that includes declaring such testimonies to the many friends that we may socially interact with!
So, the first practical tip I’d like to share based on all of this is that in order to become a godly friend to others, what we can do is simply share little testimonies of how God has worked in our lives.
I really like how one of my favorite authors, Ellen White, puts this key truth in her book, Christian Service, on page 213:
Our confession of His faithfulness is Heaven’s chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world. We are to acknowledge His grace as made known through the holy men of old; but that which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience. We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of a power that is divine. Every individual has a life distinct from all others, and an experience differing essentially from theirs. God desires that our praise shall ascend to Him, marked with our own individuality. These precious acknowledgments to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christlike life, have an irresistible power, that works for the salvation of souls.
(Christian Service pg. 213)
Tip #2: Share Truth
Another key way to practically become a godly friend is to share Bible truth.
How I personally go about doing this second tip is to simply text my friends various Bible promises, Spirit of Prophecy quotes, sermons, Christian podcasts, and Christian YouTube videos that give spiritual encouragement as well as uncompromising Bible truth.
Now, of course, there’s also other ways to share Bible truth with others around you besides texting, like giving them an encouraging Christian tract or book.
I really like how Matthew 5:16 summarizes this second tip this way:
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:16)
Tip #3: Prayer
Intercessory prayer is–I believe–the BIGGEST practical thing you can do as a godly friend to those around you.
John Calvin described intercessory prayer this way:
“To make intercession for men is the most powerful and practical way in which we can express our love for them.”
-John Calvin
That’s such a simple yet such a beautiful quote!
As we seek to become godly friends to the friendless souls we come in contact with day by day, making that simple daily choice to uplift these people in intercessory prayer is the BEST thing we can do for them.
Because any friend can give temporal gifts like an Amazon gift card to someone.
But only a true godly friend can give the eternal gift of intercessory prayer to that same individual.
And it is honestly the gift of genuine, godly friendship that I hope and pray we’ll all choose to give to the souls around us–starting today!
Amen! Maranatha!