Hop on the bus, Gus
Remember that fun song Paul Simon wrote quite awhile ago, "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover"...? ![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4358/1119/200/overloaded%20schoolbus.png)
C'mon..everybody sing along now:
You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
What prompted this little trip down musical memory lane is a very timely and powerful question -
Who are you traveling with on your life's journey?
For some, the answer is, "No one." If that's you, you're probably the independent type, don't really need people too much, and pretty much prefer to handle your stuff on your own. Gets lonely, though, doesn't it? And not much fun either.
For others, the answer is, "Whoever happens to be around at the moment." Problem is, the people who happen to be around you most of the time are not real helpful when it comes to finding and achieving your purpose in life. Usually, all they care about is themselves and how they can use you to satisfy their selfish needs.
Then you've got those who've discovered the benefits of having some well-chosen traveling companions. These are folks who've learned that it's much better to walk together and be there for each other on this journey...and especially so when your companions actually care about helping you find and achieve your God-given destiny.
Jesus talked about this in John 15:12,13..."This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
According to Jesus, there's love, and then there's "greater love."
He commands us to love everybody, which means to always treat them in such a way that we put them first and do what's best for them.
But then you've got a whole 'nother level of love...which isn't for just anybody. No sir, this greater love is reserved for a special class of people Jesus calls, "Friends."
Wait a minute...friends? What's so special about friends? Everybody has friends, right?
Exactly my point. Just like we've done to the word "love," we've watered down this word so that now everybody we know is our friend...even if we can't remember their name! We might have met only once, but hey...you're my friend!
Well, I'm here to say it's time to stop this madness. We need to get back to the understanding of friendship Jesus speaks of in the scripture above.
A real, true friend according to Jesus, is someone who loves you so much that they are willing to totally give all that they have and are in an effort to help you reach your destiny in God. To put it another way, it means I care more about you reaching your destiny than I do about my own, and if it means I don't reach mine so I can help you reach yours, then that's what I'll do!
Now THAT'S friendship, Jesus-style!
So let me ask again, "Who are you traveling with?" Make no mistake...God has ordained this type of relationship for every one of His children (check Matt. 28:19 for starters). There are people right now that you are supposed to be walking with, in a mutual friendship where you and they are committed to serving each other as you journey together toward maturity in Christ. If you don't know who these friends are yet, start asking the Lord to show you...I guarantee He will!
If you do know who they are, why don't you give them a call today and thank them for being such an incredible gift of God in your life. And maybe try to find out how you can better serve them in their journey toward destiny.
Y'see, the bottom line is this: It pretty much doesn't matter what bus you hop onto...as long as the true friends God has given you are along for the ride. When those relationships are in order, you'll know for sure Jesus is traveling with you.
"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." (Mt.
18:20)
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4358/1119/200/overloaded%20schoolbus.png)
C'mon..everybody sing along now:
You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free
What prompted this little trip down musical memory lane is a very timely and powerful question -
Who are you traveling with on your life's journey?
For some, the answer is, "No one." If that's you, you're probably the independent type, don't really need people too much, and pretty much prefer to handle your stuff on your own. Gets lonely, though, doesn't it? And not much fun either.
For others, the answer is, "Whoever happens to be around at the moment." Problem is, the people who happen to be around you most of the time are not real helpful when it comes to finding and achieving your purpose in life. Usually, all they care about is themselves and how they can use you to satisfy their selfish needs.
Then you've got those who've discovered the benefits of having some well-chosen traveling companions. These are folks who've learned that it's much better to walk together and be there for each other on this journey...and especially so when your companions actually care about helping you find and achieve your God-given destiny.
Jesus talked about this in John 15:12,13..."This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
According to Jesus, there's love, and then there's "greater love."
He commands us to love everybody, which means to always treat them in such a way that we put them first and do what's best for them.
But then you've got a whole 'nother level of love...which isn't for just anybody. No sir, this greater love is reserved for a special class of people Jesus calls, "Friends."
Wait a minute...friends? What's so special about friends? Everybody has friends, right?
Exactly my point. Just like we've done to the word "love," we've watered down this word so that now everybody we know is our friend...even if we can't remember their name! We might have met only once, but hey...you're my friend!
Well, I'm here to say it's time to stop this madness. We need to get back to the understanding of friendship Jesus speaks of in the scripture above.
A real, true friend according to Jesus, is someone who loves you so much that they are willing to totally give all that they have and are in an effort to help you reach your destiny in God. To put it another way, it means I care more about you reaching your destiny than I do about my own, and if it means I don't reach mine so I can help you reach yours, then that's what I'll do!
Now THAT'S friendship, Jesus-style!
So let me ask again, "Who are you traveling with?" Make no mistake...God has ordained this type of relationship for every one of His children (check Matt. 28:19 for starters). There are people right now that you are supposed to be walking with, in a mutual friendship where you and they are committed to serving each other as you journey together toward maturity in Christ. If you don't know who these friends are yet, start asking the Lord to show you...I guarantee He will!
If you do know who they are, why don't you give them a call today and thank them for being such an incredible gift of God in your life. And maybe try to find out how you can better serve them in their journey toward destiny.
Y'see, the bottom line is this: It pretty much doesn't matter what bus you hop onto...as long as the true friends God has given you are along for the ride. When those relationships are in order, you'll know for sure Jesus is traveling with you.
"For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst." (Mt.
18:20)
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