This week we’re talking about the importance of friendship! Did you know that God created us for friendship? Making friends can take courage sometimes and we have two simple ways to help you get started! Click PLAY to listen and find out what they are.
What’s New!
Monday Bible Story:
- When Jesus came to earth, he made new friends. They were all different and had different personalities and came from different places.
Tuesday Key Verse:
- Proverbs 17:17 A good friend will love you no matter what…
Wednesday Prayer:
- Dear God, bring me good friends in my life and help us be kind and loving to each other. In the name of Jesus, amen.
Thursday Question:
- What do you look for in a friend?
Friday Fun Fact:
- Q: What are two things you can do to start making friends?
- A: Smile and share!
Special thanks to George Fox University for sponsoring the God on the Go Podcast!
Show Notes:
To get this week’s episode and daily text prompts, text the word Go to 89419. If you are in Canada, text GodOntheGo to 866-729-1065
Transcription:
One time I went to a friend’s house and I met someone new. I had seen this girl around my school, but we didn’t really know each other, and I never would’ve guessed when I got ready to go to that get together, that I would be meeting someone who would become one of my best friends. Someone who is still today, one of my best friends. But that’s what happened. I’m Julie Lyles Carr, and this is God on the Go From the Purposely Podcast Network, where we help you make the minutes matter when you’re on the go to school and errands and activities.
Having friends is really important, but it’s hard to know sometimes where to start, right? Maybe you’re meeting a lot of new people and you don’t know who might become your friends. Maybe there are some people you already know who you’d like to be friends with, but you don’t know how to do that. A lot of people say that they’re lonely. Being lonely is when you feel like you don’t belong or that you don’t have anyone to talk to. God made us to want to have people in our lives. He created us for friendship, both with him and with other people. When you feel lonely, remember this, there are a lot of people who also feel the same way, and they would love to have a friend. Not every new person we meet may want to be our friend, but every new person we meet gets us closer and closer to having a friend. Jesus knows what that’s like. When He came to earth, the Bible tells us that he met lots of people, but he was really thoughtful about making friends. He made friends with all kinds of people. He made friends with some guys who caught fish for a living. He made friends with another guy who did people’s taxes. He made friends with people who came from different towns and who had different personalities… And here’s something that is important. Jesus reached out to these people who would become his friends. He was friendly to them. He walked up to them and he talked to them. He invited them to do things with him. Jesus put in effort at making friends.
Now I know it can feel a little scary to want to be friends with someone. After all, you don’t always know if they want to be friends with you, and not every new person you meet is going to become your friend. And you know what? That’s okay. While we need to be kind to everyone we meet, becoming good friends with someone… that’s special. That’s different.
What does it mean to be a friend? A friend is someone who likes you for you. You don’t have to impress them. You don’t have to pretend to be someone you’re not, and you do the same thing for them. You like them for them. If someone wants you to be different than the amazing original you are, they probably aren’t the right friend for you. And if you are trying to make someone your friend, but you find yourself wanting them to be different, well that’s not really friendship either. The Bible says that a friend sticks with you in good times and in tough times. Proverbs 17, 17 says,
A good friend will love you no matter what.
Friends will have times they’ll disagree. Friends will have times that are all kinds of fun and friends, true friends will help each other love and serve God and will forgive each other and will be there for each other. Remember this, if you want friends, you need to be a friend. It’s going to take being brave and taking a risk to ask someone to be your friend, but it’s worth it.
So, how can you make friends? There are two easy ways to start. The first is smile! Yep. When you smile at someone, you are showing them that you’re friendly and willing to talk to them. Your smile is one of the best ways you have to meet new friends.
The second thing you can do is share. Share the seat next to you in class. Share your snack while you’re at soccer practice. Share a pencil with someone who forgot theirs. Share your time by helping someone. That’s it.
Smile and share.
These are two of the best ways to begin making friends. It’s simple: Smile and share. I’d like to be a friend to you and your family. I’m smiling and I have something to share. Text me. Text the word GO. That’s G O to 89419, and I’ll share with you some special surprises and extra tools to go with each episode. God on the Go is sponsored by George Fox University, where each student will be known personally, academically, and spiritually. I’ll see you next week.
