From The Pastor's Heart
Love + Desire Equals TRUE FRIENDSHIP? Who Knew...
Church let's talk about Friends, and Friendship. Who is your best friend?
Most of us talk about friends as we have a casual, long term relationahip with.
Maybe it's a co-worker, golf buddy, shopping buddy, fishing partner, or someone from the
past. We think friends and relate it to fun, food, fellowship which gets us started to
true friendship, but is that all that's needed? The Bible descibes friends as a longing
love for one another, such as descibed by Paul for the Church of Phillipi. He prayed for them,
thought of them, and longed to see them face to face. His words about these Christian Friends were "I thank My God
in all Rembrance of you". Always offering prayer with Joy in my every thought of you. I believe
Paul is Reminding us that there are those we think of as friends, but really are Acquaintances, because
when we think of our True Friends we will think of Christian Friends. Those that we pray for, those that we
visit, those that we cry for, those that we call or write. Paul had more than a casual relationship
with the Church, he had a deep Christ Driven Desire for the Church which he called Friends. Where are you as a True
Friend? Are you reaching out to your Church family, Are you letting you Church family reach you? Remeber a Great Church
is one that is filled with the Love and Desire to have True Friendship with each other. Think here for just a moment, when is the
last time you introduced yourself to someone in the Church to begin a True Friendship-A loving Christian Friendship. There may
be someone there this Sunday who truly needs a loving-caring friend. Are you the one God will use? There is no reason
at Highland First Baptist Church for us NOT to be a GREAT CHURCH. I know you and know the love you have in you
to share. SO lets be GREAT NOT AVERAGE.
Until He Comes,
Rev. Gary W. Melvin
Senior Pastor
