This aspect of partnering together to reach our community in Jesus' name takes the most time, and is the most fun--if you like people!  The N in PARTNER is for NURTURE FRIENDSHIPS.  A quick review: so far this week we've talked about P-Praying Together; A-Appealing to Common Interests; R-Reaching Out in Love; T-Telling Our Story, and today:  Nurturing Friendships.  Nurturing friendships takes an investment of time, effort and energy.  The Apostle Paul gave us some helpful instructions in the process in his letter to the Romans:  "Be friendly with everyone.  Don't be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people."  Romans 12:16 (CEV)

Notice he tells us to BE FRIENDLY with EVERYONE.  Being friendly isn't the same as being a friend.  Being friendly is saying, "Hi!" to folks when we pass them on the street.  It's smiling at someone, holding a door, what we used to call "common courtesy."  I don't know if you've been out there on the streets lately, but common courtesy isn't as common as it used to be.  Maybe it's because we've been taught to beware of strangers (a wise admonition for children!), that we often avert our eyes or drop on heads when we pass folks on the street, but if you're bold and brave, and let the Spirit lead, it's okay to look at someone, smile and say, "Hi!"  That's being friendly.

Then Paul tells us not to be proud and feel that we're smarter than others.  (I could add, don't be proud and feel that you aren't as smart as others, too.  You say, "That's not pride." In a way it is. It's singling myself out to be more or less than someone else and basing my worth on someone else rather than on what God says it is, which is INFINITE worthiness!  We're all infinitely worthy to Him, so when we elevate or denigrate ourselves, we're being prideful.)  Pride always gets in the way of making friends.  When I let pride rule my life, I feel better than or worse than others, and will only open myself to friendships with a very narrow band of people--those I consider "like" me.   When we let God be the determiner of worth, we can be free to treat everyone with common courtesy and respect, which will ultimately lead to friendships.

Finally, Paul tells us to make friends with ordinary people.  That's cool, because at the end of the day that's the only kind of people there are--ordinary.  You may think you're extraordinary, and you may well have extraordinary characteristics, but if you do, God gave them to you.  God makes all of us extraordinary in our own way.  At the base, though, we're all ordinary.  The cool thing is, when we make friends with ordinary people, the very investment of love that takes will often bring out the extraordinary characteristics God put in the person.  So, start looking for some ordinary people in your sphere of influence, be friendly to them, add some prayer and see what God does!

Let's pray:  God, Thank You for giving us the opportunity to be friendly with everyone, and over time to become friends with many folks who are currently far from You.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit so we may risk being friends and making friends for the sake of Your Kingdom.  This we pray in Jesus' name.  Amen.