As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Proverbs 27:17
Have you asked yourself lately, “Am I okay with who my inner circle has me becoming?”
When women spend time together, becoming happens. But there is a difference between becoming the person Jesus wants or becoming the person our flesh wants.
It’s been said that “your flesh is not your friend” because the obstacle of becoming who Jesus wants is your flesh or the old you.
Who you become will reflect who you spend time with. That is why your inner circle of friends is crucial to your becoming more like Christ and fulfilling His plans for your life.
So, what is the purpose of friendships. The purpose of any relationship—including friendships—should be about Christ.
It is important to understand that just because someone is in your life, it doesn’t mean that they should be in your inner circle. Not everyone in your inner circle will have the desire to or the ability to journey along with you to become the best version of yourself for Christ.
Several years ago, Pastor Mike Todd did a series on the inner circle. His objective was to help others learn the value of having the right relationships that will lead them toward purpose and right living.
He said that the missing link in friendships are those who will point you towards the interest of Christ because “a lot of times people will give you advice based on their feelings and not based on their faith.”
We are living in a culture where Christians desperately need to be the kind of friend God wants us to be—even if it means speaking uncomfortable truth. We all need friends—no matter our age—who will help us see our blind spots to become mature in Christ.
Long before Facebook, one of my friends in my inner circle “unfriended” me for about a year after I shared with her how she was not valuing herself or Christ with her words and behavior. The enemy knew her becoming was bigger than her and tried to end our friendship.
It is a difficult and a beautiful thing to be a friend who holds others accountable to righteousness (right living). It can be lonely and unpopular because right living is offensive to the world.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).
Daily we have the opportunity as Christians to bring our friends closer to Christ and strengthen their walk with Him in so many amazing ways.
The sad reality is that we don’t see that friendship with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4). When we have no problems with immodesty and immorality—though the Bible tells us otherwise—then we have become friends with the world.
Do you have an inner circle?
Who are the friends that you hang out with?
My mother used to say—some friends mean you no good. In other words—tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you will become in Christ.
Take time to reevaluate who is in your inner circle knowing that becoming more like Christ is only a friend away.
Prayer: Jesus, I realize that being a Christian means helping my friends to become like you. Help me to be the kind of friend that you want me to be even if it means sharing uncomfortable truths for their good and your glory. Through our inner circles, we come to know you as Lord. Help me to live up to this beautiful invitation, privilege, and responsibility.