A new created friendship

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7

 

Read Matthew 9:9—13

A single day can bring me into contact with a lot of people. Very varied people. Those I naturally gravitate towards. Those I barely bring myself to face. If I could collect them all together into some sort of party, I would tend to have the two groups drift apart. The shock of it is that Jesus is happy to be in the centre of it all. He likes making acquaintance with people. In fact I have never met anyone he would not like to know. I need my friends to know that. And as for those not my friends, I am the one who needs to remember it. All of us would be immeasurably improved by his acquaintance.

 

Lord, I thank you that in prayer I can bring my acquaintances to you. I do that now. I bring before you those I have encountered today for you to bless them. And I also see that you, for your part, would bring others before me, or, perhaps, bring me into relation with others. I see that you loved company. You created a party spirit. You drew people into community around you. You overcame differences. You forgave offences and failings. It is a restored humanity you came to create, and I cannot participate by remaining aloof. I finish this day by committing my acquaintances to you. May you work in me to create new friendships according to your Spirit.