Dear Friends,
"Battle Buddies" are what they are called. They are
men who commit to building each other up through a one-on-one relationship that
is built on honesty, openness and accountability.
Unfortunately, in most churches, men's bible studies, men's
fellowship, men's outreach events, men's prayer meetings, and men's retreats,
are the most sparsely attended events in the local church.
It's not that men
don't have time for such meetings or gatherings; it's that they won't make the
time.
Men are far less inclined than women to develop such
relationships, but they need these kinds of relationships every bit as their
female counterparts.
As a result of attending a recent Stand Courageous Men's
Conference, some of the men in our church were encouraged to develop a
"Battle Buddy," a one-on-one relationship with another man, and a few
of us have started building such relationships with the hope that other men
will do the same.
There were no more powerful pair of
warriors in the Bible than Joshua and Caleb. They were a dynamic duo.
"Then the people of Judah came to
Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb, the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to
him, 'You know what the Lord said to Moses, the man of God in Kadesh-barnea
concerning you and me." (Joshua 14:6)
"Don't miss those words "You
and Me." They are important. It would be these two seasoned warriors
who with God's help would enjoy victory after victory as together they
prepared for their people's
entrance into the Promise Land. They were truly the first biblical spiritual
and military "battle buddies."
They both knew they needed each other
as they faced the future challenges before them. Serving together for almost 50
years, they fought many battles before they would set foot in the Promise Land.
As I thought about these "battle
buddies," I was once again reminded of how important it has been for me to
have had men in my life with whom I could be honest and open.
For many years before I even learned about the idea of
having a "battle buddy," I had a friend whom I had come to know while
pastoring in another church. Today we still remain close friends and meet for
breakfast each Wednesday morning, and we have done so for many years. I can't
imagine what my life would be like without this dear friend.
However, more recently, I have begun to develop another
"battle buddy" relationship in our church. My new friend is one like
me who recognizes the importance of providing encouragement and accountability
for one another.
Did not Jesus tell Peter in Luke 22:32 to " strengthen
your brothers"? Men who are strong in the faith are usually that way
because they have had men in their life who have strengthened them.
As the Scripture reminds us, "As iron sharpens iron so
one man sharpens another." (Prov 27:17)
John reminds us, "If we walk in the light as he is in
the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus cleanses
us from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:7)
As "battle buddies," we
encourage one another "to walk in the light," and as we do so we
enjoy the wonderful promise of fellowship while also experiencing a cleansing
from sin, and how badly we need both these qualities in our lives.
If you don't presently have a
"battle buddy" in your life, why not start praying today for God to
reveal that special person, so that like Joshua and Caleb you might enjoy all
those personal and spiritual victories God has in store for your life?"
Yours in faith and friendship,
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