Much has been said and preached about us being the righteousness of God in Christ. And yes this is  true,  Romans 3:22, Romans 4;5, Romans 5: 17  etc.

 However we must bear in mind that we must live unto righteousness. 
 
Romans 6; 13, 16 -  18
 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of  unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive
from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto  God.
 
 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield  yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin  unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

I recently had a conversation with a close family member. During the conversation l said that 'because a person has a gift  or grace for a particular thing upon  their life does not mean that they have a close walk with the Lord? A gift or grace is given, but closeness with the Lord must be cultivated. Its not automatic. 
 
Going back to the title of this article, lets  differentiae between a friend and a servant.

What a great way to describe a person and a honour.  Let’s examine a few things about this disciple.


 This was the disciple that was lying on Jesus bosom at laying at Jesus boson at the last supper.                                                                                                                                           
 

John 13:23  Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples,  whom Jesus loved. Bosom signifies ‘the front of the body between the arms’  (vines expository dictionary of old and new testament words) or a person’s  breast or chest (oxford dictionary)


For you to lay on a persons breast you must be close to them and very likely  there will be a mutual likeness or love between you.

The word longsuffering means patience. Our Lord  is very patience and there is a reason why. Its because He wants us to amend our
ways so He can have His full way in our lives.
 
There are many instances from scripture where we  can see the longsuffering of the Lord. Lets look at this two scriptures:
 
2 Peter  3:9 The  Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is  longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Do you have a blog or a website? Every writer wants to have a wide  audience, which means the more you advertise your blog the
better.
 
If you have owned a blog for a while, you will find out that this is  not always very easy.

Do you enjoy the satellite navigation system in your car?

 Satellite navigation systems have the  capability to show us  trouble traffic spots so we can avoid them. The Stat  Nav helps us foresee trouble and gives us the choice to avoid traffic and  problems on our journeys.

  As we journey through life, there are many decisions that need to be  made. Who do l marry? What job should l take? Which church should l attend? I  know the Lord has called me, but when do l step out? Which school should l let  my children attend? and many other issues. Taking the wrong turn in any of these  areas can cause us many problems. 

As the years go by, we need to be increasing in things that are valuable and in these that really count for now and eternity.

 I think, we do need to evaluate and asked ourselves the question, what  am l increasing in? Hopefully it will not be sop TV shows, but things of  substance.


 Lets look a few things we should be increasing in from scripture:


 Increase in learning:

  Proverbs 1:5 
   A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:


Proverbs 9: 9
 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.


  We need to increase in learning. Learning what? What is relevant to  making us better Christians and to help us fulfil His purpose for our lives. We  need to remain teachable.


 Increase in Christ like character:

  John 3:30
  He must increase, but I must decrease.


Galatians 2:19-20
  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 

  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but  Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the  faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.


As we die to self, the life of Christ will become more evident in us:


 Increase in love towards others: 

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 
   And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love  one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 
 
  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness  before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

 We need to be increasing in our love walk towards others. The end product of  this according to verse 13 is an established heart in holiness before God.


 Increase in the knowledge of God:

 Colossians 1:9-11 
  9For this cause we also, since the  day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be
filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 
 
  10That ye might walk worthy of the  Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and  increasing in the knowledge of God; 

  11Strengthened with all might,  according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with  joyfulness;


 We need to be increasing in the knowledge of God. We need to be knowing the Lord better and better as the years go by.


I heard a preacher once say ‘ don’t waste your trials’. When we go through  difficult times, we need to learn from them. Most times, we tend to understand  the ways of God better.


As the days, weeks, and years go by. We need to be careful with our time and  make a conscious effort to invest and increase in things that really matter.


Bisi Oladipupo