ダンカン先生の英語礼拝

１０月１４日（金）

今日はダンカン先生の英語礼拝でした。
中学生へのメッセージでしたが、友達関係を考えるいい時間になったのではないでしょうか。

What kind of friend are you? 
Are you reliable? 
Can your friends count on you to be there in their time of need? 
Are you trustworthy?

Can your friends reveal their hearts to you in confidence, knowing that you won’t gossip
or reveal their secrets?
Are you selfless? 
Do you put others before you or do you always come first?
What kind of friend are you?

Take a moment this morning to really think about the type of friend you are.
Jesus says that there is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend. 
Now you may not ever be in a situation to lay down your life for a friend,
but if you were, would you? 
And would your friends think of you as the type who would love in such a way
that you would give up your life?

I used to tell my students in America that a bank robber doesn’t just wake up
one day to become a bank robber. 
It’s the little choices that person made everyday of their life that has shaped them
into who they are. 
The same is true for you and me. 
I don’t think any of us are on the verge of becoming bank robbers.
But, are you making little choices that are chipping away at your character? 
Think about your actions and your words yesterday or even this morning. 
Think about the friends you keep.

What have their words and actions been? 
Are you keeping good company?
Are they friends who would love in a sacrificial way? 
Do you gossip about others?
Do your friends?
Do you spread dissension? 
Do you tear others down when there is opportunity to build them up? 
Do you reach out a hand to the girls who are not as popular or well liked? 
Do you choose to love?

Everyday of your life adds to the legacy you will leave behind on earth. 
What would others say of you today? 
What would they say about the legacy you are leaving so far? 
If in your heart, you know you are not leaving a good legacy so far, it’s not too late. 
You can change.  Redemption is the purpose of Christ.  He can redeem you. 
Isn’t that word beautiful!  Redemption is freedom. 
It is breaking the chains and bondage of sin. 
Christ’s redemption frees us to put off the old self that is chipping away
at our character and to put on our new self. 
A person built on love. 
If you choose to embrace Christ’s redemption then you will be free to love others
as you have been loved by Christ himself.

Jesus said,
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends… 
These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

So I ask, what kind of friend are you?