Chapter Fourteen —
It’sexciting to watch a triumphant runner cross the finish line. Sophisticated equipment determines winners in a matter of milliseconds. Friends of the runner who got up in the grueling early morning hours to clock his time, or ran with him when another lap seemed impossible, now celebrate in his victory!
As I run the race46 that God has for me, I also have friends who were there. Not everyone has the gift of encouragement, but God sent a special friend, Carol, with such a gift. Her packages, wrapped with love and concern, were found in a cheerful phone call, a card in the mail, a time of prayer, or a meal around her table.
In the past, dinner invitations had turned into social obligations, but now they are intimate times of fellowship. Carol’s invitations were a reminder that she had placed value on my life. When I knocked at Carol’s door, she always received me with open arms. Her hug assured me that she was expecting me. Come to think of it, that’s how God is!
Carol called early one morning before work. “I’ve just read the first chapter of 2 Thessalonians and thought of you. I wanted to share these verses.”
As I listened, my heart beat with excitement with the overwhelming thought that God was so incredibly sensitive to have placed my name on Carol’s heart. I reached for my Bible to follow along:
“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering” (II Thessalonians 1:3-5 NASB).
What an encouragement! God provided me with a friend who was adorned with jewels of a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith.47 There were times when she ran with me, and other times she faithfully stood by the sidelines cheering me on. She prayed for me, listened to me, and held me accountable for what I was studying in God’s Word. That’s what friends are for!
“Thank you, God, for friends like Carol!”
“I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15b).
Copyright 2001, 2004 Donna Christensen
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Published Online by: The Biblical Reader
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