“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” - Romans 15:7 (NIV)

Sometimes being a friend means sticking around when it’s not comfortable and when you don’t think it is in your best interest. After all, Jesus hung around with people that we might be tempted to consider unworthy of our company.

The word Christian means Christ-like; therefore, if we want to be like Christ we have to put our own agendas, concerns, and sometimes our reputations aside to be like Him.

There was a time in my life that I had to put this to the test. Throughout my years of school, I had a good reputation as a Christian girl.

Well, I had a friend in high school that I was close to, and we were in most ways very much alike. One day I found out that she was pregnant at the age of 16, and my initial thought was, what will people think about me if they see me with her everyday.

How would this affect my reputation as a Christian, and what impact would it have on my other friendships? I had to make a decision. I chose to do what I knew Jesus would do; I stood by her despite the consequences that it might have had on me.

By accepting her regardless of her circumstances, she became one of the best friends that I’ve ever had. I realized that when you do what God’s word tells you to do, you will be blessed in the end.

Christ accepts us and stands by us regardless of our situation, and He will always be there when we need Him no matter where we have been or what we have done. We, therefore, are to follow His example.

However, it is not to say that we should agree with people’s actions that are contrary to the Bible, but rather we should encourage them and help them to move forward and toward God’s plan for their lives. We, after all, have all had our share of mistakes, and yet Jesus is always still there to be our closest friend.

Prayer Time: Ask God to help you to be the friend to others that Christ is to us. Ask Him to show you someone around you that needs that unfailing friendship.

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Posted on March 8th, 2009 in Mom's Corner | 2 Comments

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2 Comments

• modern mom says:

  March 8, 2009 at 2:11 pm

  You did the right thing. I also had a friend who got pregnant at 18 and the father is my brother. I also stood by her and we grew closer being sisters and best friends. But since they married way too early, things didn’t work out. She’s still my friend but we lost contact. She left the country some years ago. I sorely miss her!

  modern mom’s last blog post..How to clean slim-necked vases

  Reply
  • Amanda says:

    March 8, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    I’m glad that the two of you were able to remain friends. There is much to be said about a friendship that withstands a situation like yours.

    Those are the times when we find out who our true friends are.

    Reply

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