Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.
Colossians 4:14
When you’re sick, you get really close to the people that help you. It might be a neighbor that brings over a meal or takes you to the doctors. It might be a friend that shows loving interest without smothering you with attention and questions.
When Mary Ann was diagnosed with breast cancer, we got an appointment with a surgeon that specialized in helping women with this dreaded disease. When I looked him up, he was a world-class surgeon and was doing leading-edge research. He was at the top of everyone’s list as “the guy” to see.
So naturally, I assumed that he was going to be an arrogant doctor. You know the type. You’re just another case. Another body to slice, sewn up, and then move on. Patients were just another notch on his surgical belt. But nothing could have been further from the truth. When he walked in, he was kind and compassionate. He held Mary Ann’s hand and continually comforted her. Without using a lot of medical mumbo-jumbo, he calmly and clearly explained what was going on.
He drew a picture of where the cancer was and how they were going to remove it. He reassured us that everyone on her team was dedicated to “getting it all” while removing the least possible amount of tissue.
On the morning of the surgery, emotions and stress ran high with the staff due to a mix-up in the pre-surgery preparations. He walked in and put everyone at ease. His calm and caring eyes behind the surgical shield helped us relax and move forward into the unknown. After the surgery, he came to the waiting room and said the words everyone longs to hear. “We got it all.” This was followed by my hitting every speed dial number in my phone for family and friends to thank God and to spread the good news far and wide.
I can’t tell you how many people I’ve told that story to. Or how many people those people have repeated it to. Or how many women wound up being a patient of this surgeon because of the way he treated and cared for Mary Ann. But one thing’s certain. This doctor’s reputation wasn’t built overnight. He didn’t become world class just by writing a paper. Writing a blog. Or even being interviewed by the top talk show host. He built and earned it one patient at a time. Meeting and treating one person at a time. Showing care and compassion one person at a time.
The same is true with Paul’s relationship with Doctor Luke. When Paul says that Luke was a dear friend, he’s not just talking about one chance encounter or conversation. Paul’s doing more than just writing two words. This isn’t just a post-it-note on the refrigerator of Paul’s life to remind him of who Luke is. What Luke’s done.
Paul’s not just carelessly throwing these words around to make Luke feel better. Or to somehow put five-stars next to Luke’s social media page. Oh no, Paul goes out of his way to make sure that the Colossians get the full picture of who Luke is and all he’s done.
Luke wasn’t just any doctor. Paul didn’t just happen to be in the local urgent care center one day where Luke was on duty. Paul didn’t go through what happens to us when we’re forced into an urgent care facility.
When it came to Paul, Luke took a deep and personal interest in him. It seems like Luke left everything behind just to look after Paul. Luke left the normal, everyday things of his life and followed Paul around the world. Luke focused his life and talents on taking care of Paul. No matter the circumstances. No matter where that took him. Now that’s not just a friend. That’s a dear friend. That’s a one in a million friend. A friend you can really, really, really depend on. A friend that won’t leave you when things get tough. When it looks like there’s no way out. A friend that sticks closer than a brother[1].
If you’re like most people, you might have a lot of contacts but not many friends. You can have lots and lots of social media friends, but how many of them would you call “dear?” How many people would drop everything to come and help you when all hell breaks loose? You can have all the money in the world but still be lonely. We all need friends. We’re built that way. God made us to need relationships. First with him and then with one another.
Having dear friends is a great blessing for sure. But knowing the God who loves you is beyond understanding. Knowing that his arms are always, always, always, wide open to receive us is greater and higher than anything else in this life.
Our Heavenly Father is there all the time. No matter the circumstances. No matter what the problem. No matter how impossible the circumstances are. God personally is ready and willing to become our dear friend. My dear friend. Your dear friend.
Now, isn’t that the most exciting and inviting invitation of all time. When Jesus invited us to “come to him[2],’ that includes you and me. Right where we are. No need to clean up our act. He desperately wants to be our dear friend. What’s keeping you away from him and his great invitation?
Noodling Questions
Describe one close friend without using their name.
Which doctor do you have the closest relationship with? Explain.
How is Doctor Jesus more powerful and closer than any other doctor?
[1] Proverbs 18:24
[2] Matthew 11:28-30
Comments