Genesis 1:26

Then God said, “Let us make [humanity] in our image, in our likeness . . . 

Genesis 3:5

“For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 

The evil one corrupts who we are, steals who we are and twists who we are so much so, that our appetites, our ambitions, our actions all work in corrupted chorus to place us on an agenda for life that is not of God.

Matthew 3:17

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 

Matthew 4:3

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Wisdom—knowledge rightly applied.

• 61% of Americans are lonely: 3 out of 5 agreed they “sometimes feel isolated from others and their relationships are not meaningful.”

• 79%--4 out of 5 admitted they “do not have meaningful in person social interactions on a daily basis.”

Proverbs 27:4–6

Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? 

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.

Psalm 141:5

Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it.

A good friend is willing to offend your pride in the short term for the sake of long-term well-being.

“I believe in person to person. Every person is Christ for me, and since there is only one Jesus, that person is the one person in the world at that moment. I see Christ in every person I touch, it is as simple as that.”

--Mother Teresa

Ephesians 4:14–15

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

Jesus did not come into the world so that we could FEEL better.

Jesus came into the world, so that we could BE better.

Treat everyone as if they bear the likeness of God, because they do.

Find a dangerous friendship and give them the power to offend you for your own good.