The other day I was mowing my yard. Seeing that my neighbor was working in his yard, I killed the engine and walked over to introduce myself. He is a kind, elderly soul that enjoys doing yard work alongside his wife. Nothing, however, could have prepared me for his closing statement before we returned to work in our yards. After finding out that I am a minister, he said, “Keep up the good work. We need more people like you to remind us about religion and what we should be doing.”

My first thoughts were, What makes me so special? It was not me personally, but what I represented to this elderly gentleman. Then it dawned on me, He is right. We need more people in this world that properly represent Christ.

We need more Christians! We need more Christians, because Jesus told us to grow our numbers. “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18-20). Jesus wanted us to be fruitful and multiply.

We need more Christians to bring more glory to God. Christians glorify God by the lives they live. Jesus said to, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). If there are more Christians, there are more lights to shine, and then God gets the glory.

We need more Christians living as examples to the world. The Christian life is a journey dedicated to becoming more like Christ. It is a lifestyle that transforms us from selfish to self-less. Putting the Christian life into practice, others see our progress causing us to not only save ourselves but others, too (1 Timothy 4:15-16). We positively influence the world, beginning with ourselves.

All Christians have a ministry. That ministry begins within ourselves and grows to our families, friends and the world around us. The conversion of souls and faithful living are not exclusively the role of preachers, teachers, deacons, or elders. God calls all his people to multiply, glorify, and exemplify the Christian life-style. Will you answer that call?

It is good to have a friend. We all need someone in whom we can utterly trust. We need someone who loves us in spite of all our weakness. We need someone who will comfort and encourage us in time of trouble and sorrow when the world leaves us alone to fight our battles. "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17). "Ointment and perfume rejoiceth the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel" (Proverbs 27:9). R.L. Stevenson said, "So long as we love we serve, so long as we are loved by others I would almost say we are indispensable; and no man is useless when he has a friend." Jesus Christ said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

Gossip can wreck friendship. "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very (chief) friends" (Proverbs 17:9). A true friend will help you up when you have fallen down. He will defend you when others speak evil of you. He will believe you are innocent until you are proven guilty. A good friend is a great blessing. To be a friend one must give of himself and appreciate all that is loving and noble in others. "A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter" (Proverbs 11:13).

Do not turn against a true friend, and don't be a treacherous friend. "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me" (Psalms 41:9). "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful" (Proverbs 27:6).

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS!