As a people who had the privilege of growing up attending Sunday School, there are biblical narratives we just know, like the one found in Genesis 3.  We have studied under our teacher’s guidance—

• How the first man and his wife lived in paradise;
• How God instructed them to walk;
• How God directed them what to eat and not eat;
• How they chose to disobey, to sin;
• How they immediately recognized their nakedness;
• How they covered themselves with fig leaves;
• How they hid themselves in the garden from the LORD; &

How the LORD God came after them, looking for them.

A man—who was called to serve as an ambassador—who was a founding father of our nation—who served in the Continental Congress—&—who placed his signature on The Declaration of Independence——whose name was Benjamin Franklin—spoke of the truth to know in the relationships we hold so dear.

“Be slow in choosing friends and be even slower in leaving them.”

Franklin was speaking of earthly relationships, friendships we enjoy with those who live here with us; nonetheless, as we read his statement—

• We may recall how the Savior Jesus calls us ‘Friends.’  &
• We may recall from the time leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion.  &
• We may recall how those who traveled with Jesus on-mission—began to drift away.

These ‘friends’ of Jesus were hiding, where they could follow Him but hiding in places where they would not be seen.

These ‘friends’ of Jesus were quiet in their faith, even denying they knew Jesus whenever they were questioned about their ‘friendship’ with Jesus.

• We see the name SIMON PETER in our mind.  &
• We may point our fingers in judgment.

How we can drift so far!

• How can we know Jesus as Savior & still deny that we do? !
• How can we arise each morning from our slumber and not take time to pray? !
• How can we choose to walk through our day, not studying God’s Word? !
• How can we willingly allow ourselves to move so far away from our ‘friend’ Jesus? !
• How can we stay tight-lipped with those we know so well, with those who are lost, with those who do not know Jesus as their Savior? !
• How can we choose to not witness & to not testify about our ‘friend’ we have in JESUS? !!!

Oh, children of God, we know we must strive each day to avoid the sins we commit—the sins of COMMISSION.

And we also know we must work just as diligently to avoid the sins of not doing what we should do as a follower of Christ—the sins of OMISSION.

• We must NOT become too busy to share time with our Lord!
• We must NOT become too distracted by the cares of this world!
• We must NOT follow JESUS from a distance!

Thank You, LORD, for going after those who run away from You.

• Adam & Eve.
• The woman at the well.
• The chosen disciples.
• The thief on the cross.
• The disciple Simon Peter.
• The earthly half-brother of Jesus, the man James.
• Person-after-person—Jesus comes after those who desperately need Him!
• People like you & me.
• Even people who know Jesus as their Savior but who allow their faith to drift away from the Lord.
• People such as you & me—the ones we see each morning in our mirror.