Acts 27:1-8 English Standard Version
Paul Sails for Rome
27 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. 2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. 4 And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. 5 And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8 Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
How Godly Friendships Work
Godly friendships are those special relationships between friends that are based on mutual respect, trust, support and a love for God.
These types of friendships are built on a strong foundation of shared values and common interests, and they are typically characterized by a very deep sense of loyalty and companionship with Christ directly at the exact center.
Godly friendships are not always easy to find, but they are definitely worth the effort to cultivate.
These are the types of relationships that can help you weather the storms of life and come out stronger on the other side.
You pray for each other through the messes of life.
If you are fortunate enough to have a godly friendship in your life, cherish it, always and forever exceedingly abundantly value it, never take it for granted.
What Is The Importance Of Godly Friendships
The Bible tells us that as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17).
In other words, we need godly friends in our lives to help us grow in our faith.
Just as our physical bodies need exercise and healthy food to stay strong, our souls need spiritual nourishment to stay healthy.
Godly friendships provide that spiritual nourishment. When we spend time with friends who love and follow Jesus, we are encouraged and challenged to do the same.
We learn from their example, and they help us to see things from a different perspective.
They also help us to hold on to our faith when things get tough.
So if you’re looking for ways to grow in your faith, seek out godly friendships.
These relationships will be a blessing to you, and you will be a blessing to them as well.
Because our relationship with God should be our priority, we should be seeking to please Him above all else.
Having godly friends means that we will have people in our lives who share our values and who will encourage us to grow in our faith.
This is an understated undervalued and ever so vital part of the Christian life, and it is something that we should, in these days of isolation, all be striving for.
Characteristics Of A Godly Friend
God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is a God of perfect friendship and sets the only tone of how we should be friends to each other.
A godly friend is…
- Encouraging
- Focuses you back to God’s Word
- Walks in love, forgiveness and healthy boundaries
- Prays for you
- Brings out your best
- Sticks with you through the best of times and the worst of times.
Placing Proper Value on God’s Gift of Godly Friends.
The day had finally dawned, and Apostle Paul’s great longing to go to Rome was nearing its realization.
He was one of a number of prisoners whose destination was the great city at the center of the known world.
But at the outset of their journey, narrator Luke provides us with details that appear at first glance to be completely extraneous and mostly irrelevant.
He and Paul, he tells us, were “accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica.”
Aristarchus is not a well-known Bible character.
From the few places where he’s mentioned, we know that he was a good man to have around at any time, but especially during difficult times.
He first appears in Acts 19:29, where he ends up in harm’s way when Paul and his companions are set upon by a mob.
He is also mentioned at the end of Colossians (Colossians 4:10) and of Philemon (Philemon 24).
If these two epistles were written from Rome, while Paul was a prisoner there as is likely, then this companion named Aristarchus evidently remained with Paul throughout his entire journey to Rome and likely his subsequent imprisonment.
The mere mention of Aristarchus’s presence with Paul reminds us that even this great apostle to the Gentiles was not at all beyond the need of friendship.
Paul is such a significant figure that we may be tempted almost to deify him, assuming that he was echelons above and beyond such “worldly necessities.”
But in actual fact, he very much cherished friendship.
When he wrote his second letter to Timothy at the end of his life, he finished the epistle by asking not only for scrolls and his cloak (2 Timothy 4:13) but also the quick arrival of his young protégé Timothy (v 9).
The scrolls would stimulate his mind.
His cloak would deal with the cold.
But he needed Timothy because, to Paul, his friendship really mattered.
Paul’s need for friendship is revealed again when Luke tells us that, upon reaching Sidon on the way to Rome, Paul was allowed by the centurion Julius who kindly oversaw the prisoners; “to go to his friends and be cared for.”
Was it out so very of place for the mighty apostle to be cared for by others?
Not at all! Paul embraced his weakness and dependence on others because he knew that Christ’s “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
The sooner we discover how powerless and weak we really are alone, the sooner we learn the value of friendship.
No matter how strong or gifted you and I may be, you and I are not Superman, nor are we expected by God to be Superman.
If this mighty apostle needed friends and companions in his life, then you and I do as well.
Friendship is a wonderful gift God has given so that we might be encouraged and supported as we journey through this life.
Today, then, consider the godly friends that the Lord has placed around you.
Offer thanks for their love and support.
And above all, do pray for their endurance and encouragement in the faith, knowing that just as you need them to point you to Christ, so they need you.
How Do You Build Godly Friendships
There are many ways to build godly friendships, but here are five key ways:
- Pray together. This is a great way to get to know each other and to build a strong bond.
- Study the Bible together. This will help you to grow in your faith together and to learn more about each other.
- Serve together. Doing things for others is a great way to build friendships. You can serve at your church, in your community, or even in your neighborhood.
- Hang out together. Just spending time together is a great way to build friendships. You can go for coffee, go for a walk, or even just have a conversation.
- Encourage each other in the Lord. This is a great way to show that you care about each other and to build a strong friendship.
How Do We Know If A Friendship Is From God?
First and foremost, a friendship that is from God will be rooted in love, kindness, and respect.
It will be a friendship that honors God and seeks to reflect His character.
This means that your friend will encourage you to grow in your faith and will pray for you regularly.
They will also be a positive influence in your life and help you to become a better person.
Another sign of a friendship that is from God is that it will be based on mutual trust and transparency.
You should be able to share your thoughts and feelings with your friend without fear of judgment or condemnation.
Your friend should also be willing to share their own struggles and weaknesses with you, and together you can support each other and grow in your faith.
Finally, a friendship that is from God will be one that is marked by love, and joy, patience and peace, self-control and mutual understanding and contentment.
Even in difficult times, you will be able to find comfort and encouragement in your friendship.
Your friend will be a source of strength and encouragement to you, and together you can overcome any obstacle.
Ultimately, the best way to know if a friendship is from God is to pray about it and seek His guidance.
Ask God to reveal to you whether this friendship is from Him, and trust in His wisdom and guidance.
Remember that friendships that are from God are a gift, and they can be a powerful source of inspiration, support and encouragement in your life.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Abba Father, everlasting BFF, I pray for godly friendships in my life. I pray for friends who will be there for me through the good times and the bad. I pray for friends who will encourage me in my faith and help me to grow closer to You. I pray for friends who will be honest with me and who will challenge me to be the best that I can be. I pray for friends who will make me laugh and who will help me to enjoy life. I pray for friends who will be there for me when I need them, and who I can be there for in return. Also, Lord, make me this kind of friend. Thank You for the friends You have already given me, and I pray for many more blessed friendships soon. In Jesus’ name,
Adeste Fideles! Laeti Triumphantes! Venite Adoremus! Dominum.
Gloria! In Excelsis Deo! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 