Build Strong Friendships Before the End Comes - FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE, AND BE FORGIVING

Sometimes when we work closely with our friends, we become aware not only of their strengths but also of their weaknesses. What can help us deal with this challenge?  Again, consider the example of  Jeremiah.  What helped him to see the good in others and to overlook their failings?

Jeremiah wrote the book named after him, and he likely also wrote the Bible books of 1 and 2 Kings.  That assignment no doubt made him especially aware of Jehovah's mercy toward imperfect humans.  For example, he knew that when King Ahab repented of his bad deeds, Jehovah spared him from seeing his entire family destroyed during his lifetime.  (1 Kings 21:27-29)  Similarly,  Jeremiah knew that Manasseh did even more to offend Jehovah than Ahab did. Even so Jehovah forgave Manasseh because he repented.  (2 Kings 21:16, 17; 2 Chronicles 33:10-13)  Those accounts must have helped Jeremiah to imitate God's patience and mercy of his  own dealings with his close friends. - PSALM 109:8, 9.

Consider how Jeremiah dealt with Baruch when he temporarily became distracted in his assignment.  Instead of quickly giving up on his friend, Jeremiah helped Baruch by sharing God's kind but frank message with him.  (Jeremiah 45:1-5.) What lessons can we learn from this account? 

Realistically, we cannot expect perfection from our brothers and sisters. Therefore, once we have formed close friendships, we need to work hard at keeping those newly formed bonds alive. If our friends make a mistake, we may need to give kind but frank counsel based on God's Word. (Psalm 141:5) And if they hurt us, we need to forgive them.  Once we have forgiven them, we must avoid the temptation to bring the offense up again in the future. (Read Proverbs 17:9.) How vital it is during these critical times to focus on the strengths of our brothers and sisters rather than on their weaknesses! Doing so strengthens the bond we share with them, and we will need close friends during the great tribulation. 

Next time: Build Strong Friendships Before the End Comes - SHOW LOYAL LOVE

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