“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2 ESV)

God daily bears our burdens

“Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.” (Psalm 68:19 NIV)

Friends look to the interest of others

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Phil. 2:4 ESV)

 Friends outdo each other in showing honor 

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.” (Rom. 12:10-11 ESV)

“Two better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Eccles. 4:9-12 ESV)

Jesus is among friends who Father in His Name

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (Matt.18:20 ESV)

Friends sharpen friends 

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Prov. 27:17 ESV)

Jesus calls you friend 

“No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15 ESV)

No greater friend than this

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13 ESV)

“Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” (Prov. 27:9 ESV)

How Good and pleasant it is

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Psalms 133:1 ESV)

A friend loves constantly 

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” (Prov. 17:17 ESV)

Thank God for them 

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Phil. 1:3-5 ESV)

“But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (Jam. 3:8 ESV)

Jesus’s Words are Spirit and life  

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John. 6:63 ESV)

Man shall live by every Word that comes from the mouth of God

“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matt. 4:4 ESV)

The tongue is set on fire by hell

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” (Jam. 3:6 ESV)

You must confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord! 

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9 ESV)

“Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.” (Prov. 11:12 ESV)

Don’t give an answer before you hear

“If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.” (Prov.1813 ESV)

Restrain your lips and be prudent  

“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” (Prov. 10:19 ESV)

Out of the abundance of the heart a man speaks  

“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matt. 12:34 ESV)

Don’t repeat a matter! 

“Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” (Prov. 17:9 ESV)

“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” (Prov. 21:23 ESV)

A fool who keeps quiet will seem wise  

“Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” (Prov. 17:28 ESV)

Don’t curse those who persecute you  

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” (Rom. 22:14 ESV)

The mouths of fools pour out folly  

“The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.” (Prov. 15:2 ESV)

Restrain your words with understanding 

“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.” (Prov. 17:27 ESV)

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.” (James 1:26 ESV)

Let your words be acceptable!

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 ESV)

A gentle tongue is a tree of life

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” (Prov. 15:4 ESV)

A tongue is small but boasts great things

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!” (James 3:1-12 ESV)

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (Prov. 25:11 ESV)

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16 ESV)

Religious stereotypes

As a child I lived with many different families as part of the foster care program. Some of them attended church, so I went with them and was exposed to a variety of churches. Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with any of them and had no reason to go to church after becoming an adult. My opinion of religious people was mainly formed by what I saw in movies with stereotypes such as Elmer Gantry. Religious characters were usually weak, effeminate, mean, or hypocritical and I didn’t want to be around anyone like them! But, then I met a man who totally changed my mind about what a church goer should look like. It happened in the most unlikely place, at U.S. Army basic training!

A positive example

I was drafted into the Army in 1968 and sent to Fort Lewis for basic training. I was put into a platoon with other young men to learn how to become soldiers. One of them was Jim Bosman, a young man who looked like the perfect soldier. He was strong, learned things quickly, followed orders correctly, and excelled in everything that was taught. Whenever I spoke to Jim, he looked me in the eye, listened intently to what I had to say and replied clearly with genuine friendliness. I noticed that he never complained, had a positive attitude, and he didn’t  swear or smoke. Over the next few weeks of basic training we became friends. I was surprised to find out that he liked going to church. On Sundays there was chapel service on the bass and he invited the rest of us to go with him. I did and he was nothing like any of the religious characters I had seen in movies. In fact, he was quite the opposite and changed my mind about religious stereotypes. After basic training, whenever I thought about church, I had only good positive feelings and it was because of the great example demonstrated by my friend, Jim Bosman. 

Be a model of good works

“Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity.” (Titus 2:7 ESV)

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.” (Lam 3:25)

Timing is important! 

“Timing is so important! If you are going to be successful in dance, you must be able to respond to rhythm and timing. It’s the same in the Spirit. People who don’t understand God’s timing can become spiritually spastic, trying to make the right things happen at the wrong time. They don’t get His rhythm – and everyone can tell they are out of step. They birth things prematurely, threatening the very lives of their God-given dreams.” – T. D. Jakes

Let your heart take courage

“Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14)

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary.” (Isaiah 49:31)

“Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off.” (Psalm 37:34)

Not laziness

“Waiting for God is not laziness. Waiting for God is not going to sleep. Waiting for God is not the abandonment of effort. Waiting for God means, first, activity under command; second, readiness for any new command that may come; third, the ability to do nothing until the command is given.”—G. Campbell Morgan

And finally, this …

"Frank wasn't known for his patience, and he had absolutely no use for negative conversation. When he got a call from his wife during a busy day at work, she talked slowly and didn't seem very upbeat. Frank interrupted her and exhorted her to be brief and positive. She paused for a moment and then cheerfully replied, 'I discovered the airbags in our new BMW work great!'"