Friends don't let friends drive drunk! I'm sure everyone knows this slogan. It's used nationally to promote awareness concerning the deathly dangers involved with drunk driving, And it seems to be working. More and more people are choosing a 'designated' driver when they go out with plans to consume alcoholic beverages during the evening. That's good news...because, friends don't let friends drive drunk.
Additionally, responsible hosts are collecting keys at the door when hosting a party where they are serving alcohol. No one too drunk to drive home safely ('safely' equals bringing no harm to yourself, others, or property) is allowed to have their keys back. The host finds another way to get the inebriated guest home safely. Why go to all the trouble? Because, friends don't let friends drive drunk.
What I like best about this way of thinking is that it forces us to consider our friends and their well-being.
I wonder if we could take it another step. For example, more recently there has been a more-or-less united effort to end bullying. We say, "Stop Bullying!" But, sadly, that is often exactly where it stops. Nothing else happens. Imagine the difference if we treated bullying on the same level as excess drinking, bringing it to a more personal level when we say, "Friends don't let friends get bullied." And conversely, friends don't let friends BECOME bullies! Maybe that's the whole problem...maybe people don't have any real friends anymore. Well, I do. I have a "friend that sticketh closer than a brother." (Proverbs 18:24)
I still remember, from Sunday School, the little song we used to sing: "My best friend is Jesus...how I love Him!" It may seem like childish lyrics, but it has proven to be true too many times in my life. He's the best friend EVER! We're 'blood brothers!" He shed His blood, I dipped myself in it, and now we keep covenant together. He stops me from doing a lot of things that might be detrimental to my well-being...physical, mental, or spiritual well-being. Friends don't let friends _______ .
He declared us to be His personal friends. (John 15:15 go ahead, re-read the entire chapter...it's still thrilling) Let His words in verses 12 & 13 rekindle the flame in your heart. "This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." And there it is...the ultimate declaration regarding true friendship: Friends don't let friends go to hell!
Jesus once said, "Don't say, 'there are still four months until harvesting time.' Look around you! The fields are ripe and ready now!" I believe that. Now is the time to get serious about your family and friends. If there is someone you want to see again, in heaven, then make sure that they get there. Friends don't let friends go to hell. Pure and simple. Now is the time to redouble your efforts on their behalf. Pray like you've never prayed before that the Spirit of the Risen Lord will move on their hearts before it's too late. Friends don't let friends go to hell!
And don't go all righteous on me here, either. It's not 'judging' when the Lord puts someone on your heart who needs intercession and intervention! We don't mind to intervene when we think they could be too drunk to drive...then we shouldn't mind to intervene when we think they are headed for serious trouble, spiritually.
It's up to you...you still have a choice, free-will, but as for me, I intend to make as sure as I possibly can that everyone I care about is going to see me again in our heavenly home. I just wouldn't be a true friend otherwise!
Friday, September 28, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
I can't get no satisfaction...
Recently, I remembered the old rock tune, "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." And you know what happened then; it got me to thinking...
Abraham Lincoln once said, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Given the times he lived in, that was quite a statement. Nevertheless, I believe that he was right, after all. Happiness, in general, doesn't happen, it's made. And it's made from all the various threads in the weaving of our lives. When happiness eludes you, consider where you are looking for it. Whether it's in relationships, your job/career, or just 'stuff,' whatever fills the void in your life will never be enough when you're looking in the wrong places for the wrong reasons. The only satisfaction will be temporal at best.
It's like pouring water through a strainer. If you pour really fast, you can fill it for about 1/2 a second. No wonder Jesus used water to demonstrate this point! According to John, chapter 4, the account is written concerning this matter. There are a couple of points I want you to notice here.
To begin with, verse four tells us that "..he must needs go through Samaria." That lets me know that the Lord has a need to interact with us in our daily lives, but it only makes a difference if we pay attention to what He is saying. It's interesting that we can find him here at all. Historically, the Jewish people hated the Samaritans, and the feeling was mutual...an Old Testament 'Hatfields and McCoys' on a national level. (see verse 9) When the Samaritan woman mentions this, Jesus simply executes His plan. The ensuing dialogue is a split-level conversation. The woman can't get past the physical reality of the situation, while Christ deals with us on a spiritual plane. He asks for a drink of water. She says, "You don't even have a bucket!" And that opened the door!
What He says next is classic truth...it's the bedrock for the foundation of understanding God in our lives. He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that asked you for a drink, you would have asked him for a drink of living water. And he would have given it to you." But, she's still not in touch. The conversation continues as He speaks of Living Water, explaining that everything else in life will leave you thirsty. And there it is! The reason we "can't get no satisfaction."
Anything, ANYTHING, A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G other than Christ himself in our lives, will leave us feeling empty. It will never be enough, no matter what it is. He is the source of true life and the happiness in it. When we are wrapped up in Him, everything else falls into place. When we are drinking at His well, we are filled and satisfied. Nothing can steal our peace or joy.
So, dear one, come away with me to the well of living waters. Spend some time in the shade of that oasis just talking with your friend, Jesus. He felt the need to come your way today, why not tarry with Him until you are satisfied again!
Abraham Lincoln once said, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." Given the times he lived in, that was quite a statement. Nevertheless, I believe that he was right, after all. Happiness, in general, doesn't happen, it's made. And it's made from all the various threads in the weaving of our lives. When happiness eludes you, consider where you are looking for it. Whether it's in relationships, your job/career, or just 'stuff,' whatever fills the void in your life will never be enough when you're looking in the wrong places for the wrong reasons. The only satisfaction will be temporal at best.
It's like pouring water through a strainer. If you pour really fast, you can fill it for about 1/2 a second. No wonder Jesus used water to demonstrate this point! According to John, chapter 4, the account is written concerning this matter. There are a couple of points I want you to notice here.
To begin with, verse four tells us that "..he must needs go through Samaria." That lets me know that the Lord has a need to interact with us in our daily lives, but it only makes a difference if we pay attention to what He is saying. It's interesting that we can find him here at all. Historically, the Jewish people hated the Samaritans, and the feeling was mutual...an Old Testament 'Hatfields and McCoys' on a national level. (see verse 9) When the Samaritan woman mentions this, Jesus simply executes His plan. The ensuing dialogue is a split-level conversation. The woman can't get past the physical reality of the situation, while Christ deals with us on a spiritual plane. He asks for a drink of water. She says, "You don't even have a bucket!" And that opened the door!
What He says next is classic truth...it's the bedrock for the foundation of understanding God in our lives. He said, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that asked you for a drink, you would have asked him for a drink of living water. And he would have given it to you." But, she's still not in touch. The conversation continues as He speaks of Living Water, explaining that everything else in life will leave you thirsty. And there it is! The reason we "can't get no satisfaction."
Anything, ANYTHING, A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G other than Christ himself in our lives, will leave us feeling empty. It will never be enough, no matter what it is. He is the source of true life and the happiness in it. When we are wrapped up in Him, everything else falls into place. When we are drinking at His well, we are filled and satisfied. Nothing can steal our peace or joy.
So, dear one, come away with me to the well of living waters. Spend some time in the shade of that oasis just talking with your friend, Jesus. He felt the need to come your way today, why not tarry with Him until you are satisfied again!
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