Friend or Foe

 On what basis do you consider a person to be a friend or foe? Many times the basis of this opinion is whether or not the person agrees with us about any number of opinions. Is it not better for a friend to be one who accepts us and our opinions and yet seeks our best interest? Foes tend to seek many ways to discourage, defeat or malign another. If one has a weak relationship with another, dismissing these encounters may be relatively easy. Most relationships do not lack a series of healthy disagreements, but they should be healthy disagreements. People are individuals and some have said there is a time to agree to disagree and move on. Healthy disagreements should not be competitions and one must not insult another or create data to best the other. As mistakes are an avenue for learning, disagreements are an avenue for one to determine the strength of their views or a need to change them, sometimes completely. Christians should not be afraid to express all their feelings to the Holy Spirit - He knows them intimately before they coalesce in our minds. However, we must accept that He is God and knows best. On our unique independent spiritual journey of sanctification, our challenge is to understand His directions and change our views to match His. [Jesus said,] "I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." - Jn. 15:11-14.