We are stronger, more confident when we know we are surrounded by people who love God and are as passionate about joining Him in His work at hand as we are. Right?

When I was younger I took care of my brother while my parents worked. He was seven years younger, but as tall as I was. He was about eleven years old, out playing with friends, when he got into a scuffle with the neighborhood bully. He apparently told this bully that his sister would beat him up if he did harm to him. The bully wanted to see who this sister was, since my brother ran all the way home (only a few houses down the block) while he had drawn the bully’s attention away for a second. 

My brother came bursting through the door, panting, and yelling, “someone wants to meet you!” Before I could process what was going on, but knew that it was not going to be good, I opened the door to see the bully facing me down. This is where I first began my “teacher look” of “really?” I confidently stared down this little, red-headed bully, (while shaking inside my body), and he said, “You didn’t tell me she was a little girl”. And he walked away.

My brother knew at the time, he could count on me to help him. Who can we count on in our “surround” of friends who work with us for the glory of God? Who gives us confidence to do our best for God? Who encourages us by their very lives?

Paul reminds Titus to choose a “surround” of leaders well as he had told Timothy. We are wise to follow this leading in God’s church and in our lives. We still have bullies who try to hinder our ministry and destroy our witness. Ask God for wisdom. He will give it. 

“It’s important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God’s house, be looked up to–not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry. He must welcome people , be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose it.” Titus 1, Msg

After staring the bully down that day, I reminded my “little” brother about choosing his friends more wisely. Stop playing with the red-headed kid who is not nice. Pray for him, but don’t play with him for awhile. We spent a lot of years praying for the red-headed bully in our neighborhood. We invited him to church in later years. 

There will be turning point in our lives and ministry. Choose your friends and workers who walk beside you with extreme discernment.

Dear Heavenly Father, You teach us well through your word. We have made mistakes along the way but you teach us through those as well. Thank you for bringing workers alongside us at just the right time. Thank you for the “surround” in our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.