Transparent Christian Magazine

Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (Msg)

That’s the message we’re to tell the world, but we limit ourselves in how we can share this Good News if our only friends are other believers. Jesus, on the other hand, understood his mission was to seek the lost, and so he became friends with those who needed to become friends with God.

The Bible says that when the Pharisees saw Jesus keeping company with disreputable characters, “. . . they had a fit, and lit into Jesus’ followers. ‘What kind of example is this from your Teacher, acting cozy with crooks and riffraff?’ Jesus, overhearing, shot back, ‘Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? Go figure out what this Scripture means: “I’m after mercy, not religion.” I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.’” (Matthew 9:10-13 Msg)

Likewise, Jesus wants us to be his representatives, speaking on his behalf to those still on the “outside.” Yet many Christians are so isolated and disconnected from unbelievers that they rarely have any meaningful conversations with them. The longer we’re believers, the more insulated we tend to become from unbelievers. And often, the more insulated we become from them, the more uncomfortable we become with them. In the end, we no longer have any friendships with the very people Jesus wants us to reach.

The Apostle Paul said we should try to find “common ground” with nonbelievers, so that we can tell them about Christ: “I do this to get the gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ.” (1 Corinthians 9:21–23 LB)

When Jesus began talking to the woman at the well (John 4:4–26), he searched for common ground rather than condemning her. As a result, she not only made peace with God, she also brought her friends and family into the presence of Jesus. We see from this example that our friendship with nonbelievers requires that we understand the difference between loving them and loving their ways.

Building friendships requires:

• Courtesy: “Always talk pleasantly and with a flavor of wit, but be sensitive to the kind of answer each one requires.” (Colossians 4:6, NJB)

• Frequency: You’ve got to spend time with nonbelievers in order to become friends with them.

• Authenticity: “Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good.” (Romans 12:9 Msg)

Jon’s book, “Growing with Purpose,” is now available at amazon.com. If you’d like to receive his devotionals regularly, you can sign-up at www.gracecreates.com/subscribe/. This devotional is copyrighted 2009 by Jon Walker. Used by permission.