In Four Loves, C. S. Lewis wrote this about friendship, “Friendship arises out of mere companionship when two or more of the companions discover that they have in common some insight or interest or even taste which the others do not share and which, till that moment, each believed to be his own unique treasure (or burden). The typical expression of opening Friendship would be something like, “What? You too? I thought I was the only one.”” This reminded me of the text we have been looking at in 1 Peter (1:22 – 2:3). On the surface it seems counter intuitive, but true brotherly love (true friendship) is not the result of two people focusing on one another. It is the fruit of two people walking together and focusing on the same prize, the same goal, and moving together in the same direction. Biblical love is the result of fixing our gaze together on Christ and His Word. This also does not mean that we are unaware of those around us but genuine care and concern is the result of the common bond of walking on the same road and heading in the same direction. Friendships are not discovered, Lewis writes, by “looking for friends”, but by finding people who “see the same truth”. What a joy it is to walk together, following after the same truth!
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