“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9
Man, above all else, is a delusional creature, bound in self deception. We tend to believe things that fuel our self-interests. It is difficult to be balanced and sober without the right people around us. A true friend offers sobering perspectives that can certainly help us. People who want to manipulate us will often tell us what they think we want to hear and support our delusions. As a result we are not honest with ourselves or others and that hinders our ability to be truthful. In fact it scares us and makes us feel vulnerable.
Proverbs: “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”
Jesus was God incarnate. He is Emmanuel, which is God with us! He had a very interesting statement for the disciples collectively before He was betrayed with a “kiss”:
John 15:15
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s
business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from
my Father I have made known to you.”
We love to qoute this scripture, but to truly be considered an entrusted friend of God, you have to be able to walk in truth and get over your own delusions of how close you are to Him. You have to be able to withstand the sobering and grave news that He gives you about yourself. Let’s look at Peter.
We recall the story of Job and how Satan went before God asking to test and tempt Job. This pattern was no anomaly and Jesus confirmed it. The difference is Job stood and Peter fell.
Luke 21:31-34
31“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift youa as wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back,
strengthen your brothers.” 33But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”34Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”
Differing from the previous two therapies mentioned, the counsellor works at encouraging the couples to use each other generika cialis tadalafil as emotional support. They may get levitra start hitting gym and put down your handset in a charging locker for a small time period. More importantly, seek an expert’s order levitra supplementprofessors.com advice before buying this online. Prosolution Plus men enhancement 5mg cialis price dietary supplement is backed up by science too. Peter must have been stunned! How could he betray the Lord! He was rebuked in the midst of his self-righteousness and bravado. He deluded himself into believing his own hype. No doubt, Peter, like many of us would prefer to have friends around him that would feed his ego, but are they the friends one needs? Christ gave Peter both the good and sobering news with His statements. Jesus was being a friend. Let’s continue to sober one another up. More importantly, cultivate a disposition and attitude that invites the truth. Jesus also modeled transparency and disclosure as hallmarks of friendship. You will be amazed the kind of people you draw to yourself and cause. Folks, I would really challenge all of you to fearlessly look at every relationship in your life that you have chosen to be involved in and ask these two questions:
“How honest can I be with this person?”
“How honest are they with me?”
The degree of honesty and truth, reveals the level of trust and mutual vulnerability you have developed.
One historical figure amplifies this point.
“For there is no way to guard against flattery but by letting it be seen that you take no offense in hearing the truth.”
Niccollo Machiavelli
Build something lasting and worthwhile in your relationships today. Our destinies are tied to the people we surround ourselves with.