That is what happened to me today. I was praying over some situations that were troubling me. I sought the godly counsel of my friend as well. She told me that I have a choice to do what is right or not. I could allow the situations to overwhelm me and steal my joy or I could listen to the voice of God and live free of the struggle....
That was the voice of a true friend speaking to me...one who cares about me enough to speak plainly in love about making right choices.
A friend loveth at all times... Proverbs 17:17a
We were talking about the friendships between women in our Bible Study in the book of Ruth. Naomi was a mentor and friend to Ruth even though she was an older widow, yet she cared deeply for her daughter-in-law. As a result of their friendship, Naomi was able to lead Ruth away from the pagan religion of Moab and into serving the God of Israel. Throughout that book we see the positive influence of Naomi on Ruth as one of the greatest examples of redemption in the Old Testament. God blessed their lifelong friendship in so many ways. He had a greater plan than the friendship. That plan was for Ruth, a Moabitess... a foreigner...to be chosen for the Messianic Line. What an honor for both of these women who faced very difficult times together!
Another example of true friendship is between David and Jonathan.
1Samuel 18:1
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
They were close knit friends! We can read the story in 1 Samuel 18-21 of how Saul, Jonathan's father wanted to kill David, but we also read that Jonathan was faithful to his friend until the end of his life. When David became king of Israel, he wanted to show kindness to anyone left in Jonathan's family. There was one, Mephibosheth, Jonathan's crippled son, who was found and brought to the king's palace. He was fed from the king's table all of the days of his life. That was kindness of a true friend!
Proverbs 18:24
A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
The real point here is the last part of a verse. "there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." That friend is Jesus Christ Himself. He will never forsake you in any situation. You can always call on Him. He will always be there no matter what time of the day or night that we need Him.
So, if you want to have a true friend, you have to be a true friend. The more you get to know your friend, the more your relationship with them will grow and deepen. The same is true about your relationship with Christ. The more you spend time with Him, the greater your relationship will be and the deeper your faith will grow.
- If your friendships are a negative influence in your life, you have to make choices to pull away from that which is harmful. I had to make those choices in my life and it was painful, yet the new friends brought so much more into my life.
- Friendships that are founded and built with Christ as the center of the relationship will be strong enough to stand life's difficulties. Those friendships will go on into eternity!
Eternity with Christ and our true friends....Now there is a good combination for happiness!
Thanks for reading.
Donna McHugh
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