Keep our eyes open to ensure everyone has someone looking out for them, says Sheffield minister

It is a lasting memory to savour as Sheffield enters high-level restrictions.

There are many enriching qualities in good friendships.

They accept you for who you are. You can be honest with them. Proverbs 17vs17 tells us that a good friend is loyal. There is a mutual desire to look out for each other. There will be laughter – but also you can be at ease with each other when there are no words at all.

They bring encouragement and being with them lifts our spirits.

The Bible teaches us a lot about this.

St Paul wrote to many church communities and he addressed them as friends with words of encouragement: “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.” 1Thessalonians1vs2.

It is clear God wants to be our friend.

When Moses was leading the Israelites through the wilderness, he would meet with God in the Holy tent face to face “as a man speaks to a friend”.

Christians believe this friendship is offered through his son Jesus: “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends.” John 15vs15.

Even though we may be facing limited contact with our friends in person, we are never on our own, because God is with us.

The Bible says we should use the friendship God offers to model our relationships with each other.

We thank God that, despite imposed limitations, we can still keep in touch with our friends, whether it be letter writing, a phone call or the use of social media.

Think too about people who may feel very isolated and without many friends.

Let us all keep our eyes open to make sure everyone in our community has someone looking out for them and offering them a hand of friendship.

The Reverend Jonathan Haigh is a minister at Victoria Hall Methodist Church, Sheffield city centre, and Greenhill Methodist Church – see greenhillmethodistchurch.com