As we continue our discussion on friends and family, I want you to know that the God Family operates in this same way—with your best interest at heart. The various jobs, roles or positions that you are assigned in the earthly kingdom may not always be what you want them to be. They may not be glamorous, provide titles, or issue the recognition you deserve; however, they were planned for you to best prepare you for your eternal position. Your job is to accept your standing before God and your fellow man, and to work for His glory with the knowledge that all things work together for the good of those who love Him. (Romans 8:28)

It is important to remember not to despair or give up, no matter what life throws you. The greatest saints of all time had their challenges. They faced them and moved on, despite the hardship. Paul delivers a great dissertation on a believer’s constant state of challenge in Romans Chapters 7 and 8. I encourage you to make those chapters the subject of intense study so you are not discouraged from your position in Christ Jesus. Be careful not to take your position lightly OR for granted. Remember these key words and concepts from Romans Chapters 7 and 8:

1. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (7:18 – 20)
2. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. . . . (8:1)
3. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. (8:12)
4. . . . [T]hose who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (8:14)
5. The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. (8:16)
6. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. (8:17)

Each Member of the Trinity has two friendship offerings for their Family Members that you receive as you walk with Them: Love and Goodness. These gifts are presented through the people you encounter and the circumstances of your life in the Kingdom of God—each instance molding you more and more into the likeness of the Son. Invest in friendship with your eternal family—The God Family. Learn to imitate Them in love and goodness, regardless of what you see in this world. You will not always like what you see on the earthly plane, but you will know it is what is perfecting you.

Here is your alternative to love and goodness from the inspirational writings of C. S. Lewis:  

There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of selfishness. But in that casket—safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy or at least, the risk of tragedy is damnation. The only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers of love — is Hell.

Tomorrow, we will consider what accompanies friendship, love, and goodness in a long-term spiritual relationship. Our eternal security is guaranteed, but being secure does not mean we can lie down on the job and just “take it easy” in this life. Joy and peace come from a commitment on our part to doing our part. We know The God Family will remain faithful even when we are not. So our job is really to learn how to be a friend of each Person of the Trinity, and then remain faithful to our worldly relationships.

Love Dad