Counsel #5 — Friendships

Picture: Counsel #5 — FriendshipsCMH 15.1

When we have close friendships with other believers with whom we can share challenges and pray, we learn from each other and grow in our faith, strengthening our emotional health at the same time. The support we find with other believers helps us survive difficult times as well as celebrate each other’s successes.^{[13]https://www.adultbiblestudyguide.org/pdf.php?file=2004:3Q:ER:PDFs:ERQ304_05.pdf}CMH 15.2

“Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24, 25 NKJVCMH 15.3

“Things will go wrong with every one; sadness and discouragement press every soul; then a personal presence, a friend who will comfort and impart strength, will turn back the darts of the enemy that are aimed to destroy. Christian friends are not half as plentiful as they should be. In hours of temptation, in a crisis, what a value is a true friend! Satan at such times sends along his agents to cause the trembling limbs to stumble; but the true friends who will counsel, who will impart magnetic hopefulness, the calming faith that uplifts the soul, -- oh, such help is worth more than precious pearls.” Ellen White in Sons and Daughters of God, p. 161.2CMH 15.4

Reflect: In what ways have your friends brought you spiritual encouragement and strengthened your emotional well-being?CMH 15.5