APRIL 18

James 4:4

FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD

Friends are people with whom you like to hang around, go out, talk and play. You feel comfortable with your friends and you are happy to spend a lot of time with them.

But what is a friend of the world? That is someone who lives for his own pleasure, wants his own ways and puts himself first and above others. Read 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and write down the kind of people who are friends of the world.
Answer: _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

To be friend of the world is to be God’s enemy. You can’t be a friend of the world and a friend of God at the same time. Here are some nasty things that we sometimes do. For example, we get angry for no good reason. When listening to God’s Word, we get distracted. We don’t love our neighbors as ourselves. We know what is right but often do what is wrong. We speak without thinking and often say hurtful things.We also cause trouble at home and in school, and even in church. Our desires and actions are often selfish. Are you guilty of these? Is there a way out? We need a Saviour!

We can never get right with God by our own efforts, because our sin keeps us from doing right in God’s sight. The wall of hostility is between us and God.The wonderful news is that Jesus has broken down that wall. Once we believe that only Jesus can cleanse us of our sins, we are placed in God’s kingdom. We are saved only because Jesus has opened the door to heaven to all who believe. We no longer have to face the horrors of hell. Jesus is our Saviour!

So if you are a friend of the world, you can stop. You have hope if you turn to Jesus. He can make you a friend of God. He can change your life and then you will in time stop doing all the nasty things that you used to do.

Turn to Jesus now. Live for Jesus and be his follower. Tell him how sorry you are for doing nasty and wrong things. Ask him to take away the punishment that you deserve and make you clean.

Thought: Why is Jesus our Saviour?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for doing nasty and wrong things. Help me stop doing them. Jesus, please come into my heart and make me Your friend. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.