Is That Broccoli?

“We need a friend who is loving and actively striving to follow Jesus, who will be willing to ‘point out the food in our teeth’.”

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2 ESV

I have a confession to make. I’m the friend who won’t tell you when you have food stuck in your teeth or something on your face. I also won’t correct you if you spell my name wrong or even call me the wrong name. I’d rather avoid the perceived awkwardness that comes with that. But am I really being a good friend? Probably not. I know a lot of people would rather be told they have something in their teeth than have me “ignore” it to avoid being awkward. 

Being a follower of Jesus, striving to be more and more like Him every day, gives us standards to live up to. We’re called to act certain ways and not act in other ways. We’re called to a high model of living, and it’s not easy to do. Sometimes we make mistakes, we make choices that aren’t showing Jesus’ love, sometimes we just let the temptation of sin win. 

For these occasions, we need a friend who is loving and actively striving to follow Jesus, who will be willing to “point out the food in our teeth”. We need someone in our lives willing to have awkward conversations to point out our sin in a loving way, with the intent to point us back to Jesus. We can also be that friend to others. Are you willing to put aside your own comfort to spiritually restore a friend? Remember, it should always come from within the context of a close relationship, be done with a spirit of gentleness, and most of all, be done in love. 

I encourage you to rise above the fear of awkwardness and have those hard conversations when they’re necessary. 

Actions Steps:

• Do you have a friend in your life that you can have deep, personal, godly conversations with? Do you have someone that you can talk with about each other’s sin? If you’re not sure, ask a friend if they’re willing to have those conversations. 

• I know motherhood can be lonely and isolating, therefore I encourage you to be purposed to form those relationships, even with just one mom friend.

• Read Psalm 141:5

Written by Cathrine (not Catherine), mom of 4

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