Friends in High Places

 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me
welcomes the one who sent me.”

 

-- Matthew 10:40

The saying goes that it’s not what you know, but rather WHO you know that makes all the difference. And that’s certainly true when you’re facing a difficult situation — like when you need a plumber to fix a broken pipe on a holiday weekend or a pair of front row tickets to that sold-out concert. Life is much easier when you know someone who knows someone who can get things done.

Christ-followers enjoy a similar advantage because of Who we know.

After all, ours is a faith that embraces relationship over religion. Specifically, there’s the ultimate parent/child relationship between us and God. It’s a bond that’s made possible through Jesus’ death on the cross -- a punishment we all rightly deserve for our lifetimes stained by personal failures and shortcomings (also known as “sin”). But since we’re connected with the right person (Jesus), he’s already paid the price to save us from a certain death and eternal punishment in hell. What's more, Christ has us covered so well that we’re literally heirs to his Father’s kingdom.

  

While that’s the primary relationship we enjoy as Christ-followers, God also wants us to establish relationships with others so they can begin their own faith-journeys. That means introducing them to Jesus, sharing his story and relating how his death on the cross means a whole new life here on earth — and later in eternity. And when these soon-to-be believers arrive at those inevitable rough patches in life, they’ll always know The One to call.

How do we get the ball rolling?

One of the best ways is to begin praying for people by name. They might be our family members, co-workers, neighbors, political leaders, the unsaved — and particularly our enemies. After that, don’t be surprised if God creates the circumstances where we become the answer to someone else’s prayer. 

Jesus set our example when he dispatched some of his followers to spread the Good News (the Gospel) throughout the community:

“Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel,” he told them. “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

Here, Jesus instructed his disciples to be the answer to someone’s fervent prayers -- and all while using their connection with him to do the seemingly impossible.

Do you have friends in high places? The right connections make all the difference.