Make a Friend

“Make a friend, be a friend, bring that friend to Christ”.

What exactly defines a friend? The dictionary says, “A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts”, or “A close and trustworthy relationship”.

Mark Zuckerberg just announced that Meta is developing through AI, “friends” to solve the loneliness problem in the world. Really? In my little pea brain, I am visualizing this ginormous bank of computers overflowing with strange AI personalities made by algorithms. Personalities with traits created by youngsters who would implement them with what they considered friend-like qualities! Oh, my word, this could shape up to be some sort of horror movie. But I digress.

Instead, let’s take a look at real friendships and what they mean to us.

Years ago, while attending a retreat I heard the phrase, “Make a friend, be a friend, bring that friend to Christ”. It has stuck in my mind ever since.

For some of us, making friends is an easy task, because we are extroverts and have never met a stranger. For others, who are introverts, making friends may be a difficult, even awkward process. Entering a room full of strangers to the extrovert may seem like a fun adventure, but the introvert would find it painful and would prefer to just skip the event.

Being a friend requires a certain level of loyalty and commitment. It is an investment in that person, and our busy lives might require being intentional with our efforts. We spend our time and energy in whatever relationship or activity is important to us.

Bringing a friend to Christ means sharing our faith with that friend.

I have found it’s more difficult to share Jesus with people you know, but as you develop a relationship with someone, sharing your faith is easier and becomes more natural. Sometimes we are bolder in sharing with friends and even strangers than we might be with our family members.

There is no greater gift than sharing the good news of Jesus. All of us have probably struggled at one time or another with sharing the gospel. It is a huge responsibility, and yet also a wonderful blessing. Yes, we feel inadequate, well unless we happen to be a pastor or evangelist, but all of us are called to share the Gospel.

In high school I participated in a Bible study for teens that played a big part in my early spiritual growth. Bruce and Lorraine, a couple from my church, graciously opened their home for the study group, and over a very short period of time our numbers grew. On one particular night I remember a few of us prayed for Kim, a member of our football team. He had been searching for God and a few of us offered to pray the sinner's prayer with him. I still remember the excitement and energy we felt after leading that friend to Christ. I imagine the angels were rejoicing in heaven the night Kim asked Jesus into his heart.

Someone recently told me they were still trying to figure out God and the part he plays in their life. They attend church and are seeking to discover the plan God has for them. I believe their effort to understand will result in answers for my friend. Because at some point people come to a turning point when they ask themselves questions, even wondering if life just happens?

Recently at Easter services, our pastor, Jason Burns at Access Church invited visitors who had no church home, to give them 6 weeks. He asked them to just show up every Sunday for 6 weeks and listen to what is shared. If you show up with an open heart, those few weeks could be life changing.

Let’s review the original premise I shared; “Make a friend, be a friend, bring that friend to Christ”.

The gift of salvation is available to all who ask. In Ephesians 2:8 it says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God”. We need to be a good friend, and we need to bring our friends to Christ.

Because if we don’t share the gospel, who will?