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A genuine friendship is the binding and bonding together of two people. Friendship is always preceded by self-giving. The first friend in the Bible was God Himself. God's first gift to Adam was another friend. God determined from the beginning that 'it was not good for man to be alone'. Friendship is based on the type of love, which is a desire for and a delight in the well-being of the one loved. This leads to an active and self-sacrificing effort on their behalf. God, Himself is the very essence of friendship.
A friend is someone we can be ourselves with. A friend is someone who knows our weaknesses and respects our strengths. It has been said:'The only way to have a friend is to be one'. A friend is a source of sunshine when we are under the weather; who believes in us when we cease to believe in ourselves. A friend is a source of celebration when we feel there is nothing to celebrate. A friend is someone who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
In the Bible, Solomon introduces us to a unique friend who will stick closer than a brother. Notice that when Solomon teaches us something about the highest measure of human friendship, he does not use a mother, a father or a sister but a brother. Brothers have a close relationship with each other. There have been many cases where brothers have died for one another, given organs to one another, taken the hit for one another, gone to jail, and rescued one another during perilous situations. Aristotle said, 'A true friend never gets in your way unless you are going down. A true friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart. A true friend is one who comes to your house and makes you feel at home.'
Friendship with Jesus is the path to real joy because He brings to us the joy of salvation, the joy of a need supplier; the joy of eternal life; and the joy of dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. Jesus is the Friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A Brother can cry with us - Jesus can wipe away all our tears.
A Brother can pray with us - Jesus can answer our prayer.
A Brother can share our storm - Jesus can calm our storms.
A Brother can die for us - Jesus rose again for us.
A Brother can be our lawyer - Jesus can set us free.
A Brother can stand by us - Jesus can stand for us.
Is the Lord Jesus your friend today? He wants to be your friend, so He showed His love for you by dying for you so that you may have eternal life and the guarantee that He will never leave you or forsake you.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Messages with Meaning (29/03/22)
Written by Peter Francis
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