Friends Who Share Both Faith And Profession
by Dan Jones, M.D.
Philippians 1:7
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.
How good the Philippian Christians must have felt to read Paul's words "I have you in my heart". Paul had every confidence in the relationships with the Philippian believers because he knew it was a relationship built through their common faith in Christ.
I am fortunate to have many friends in my life. Those friendships through my faith are relationships with a certainty that cannot exist outside the common bond of faith in Christ. But it is a special bond to share with someone who shares your faith and the struggles of your profession with you.
Our lives as health professionals are often difficult and challenging. The long hours and the demands of our patients can wear on us. And the necessity of making life and death decisions each and every day is a special responsibility. These pressures have a real bearing on one’s spiritual life. Often, my best counsel and my best Christian friendship come from those friends who share both faith and profession.
This week I spoke with a close professional friend of the faith who now lives a long distance from me. Though we were speaking on the telephone across a long distance, in the first few minutes on the call, I knew I had him “in my heart” and he had me in his heart. God uses this friendship in a very special way in my life.
Lord, thank you for Christian friends who know and understand my mind and heart.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
Rounds with the Master, Spiritual Pearls from the Great Physician Devotionals are released every Monday and Thursday.
Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash
