Reflecting on Friendship and “The Power of the Other.”

 

Thoughts on Friendship and Interpersonal Ministry

One book I am looking forward to reading is, “The Power of the Other: The power other people have on us and what you can do about it” by Henry Cloud.

I am finding this in old friends with whom I have continued to keep in touch and share life with, as well as family members with whom I share a friendship. . . .

Good friends can remember things for you, which is a big source of stability. 

I think of how amazingly thankful Noah must have been after the flood as the waters dissipated and he made an altar to the LORD for remembering him and his family. . . .

In fact he said at that time, “The LORD remembered us.”

Indeed, for God formed the first rainbow in the sky to show His love, faithfulness and covenant He made with mankind after that, saying that He would never again destroy the world with a flood, with a “deluge.”

Indeed, this showed that God was doing a New Thing and renewed the face of the earth. 

 In 1 Peter as the apostle Peter talks about how the saints (what believers are called in the New Testament) as living stones are being built together into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5), he said, “Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the very words of God” (1 Peter 4:11).

This is the sacerdotal (priestly) ministry believers can have with each other as they obey Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2).

One thing my dad said to me once, and which I believe, is that “God brings back that which has gone before” (Ecclesiastes).

In other words, nothing is wasted. . . .

Indeed, it is a joy to be a source of friendship and affirmation to friends in reminding them of the truth—a friendly word, an encouraging reminder, and as I have said before, having friends who know me well and can encourage/affirm me, a.k.a. “Telling me the Truth,” is a source of stability. . . . I think this is part of what Cloud is talking about in “The Power of the Other.”

And I believe this dynamic can and should continue as we go through life with new experiences, transitions, relationships, opportunities, etc.

Can I hear an Amen?!