I was reading
a devotional today that spoke about friendship and the ability to trust others
for it. That is a poor summary, because it
was a very powerful devotional from Girlfriends in God. Well of course it made me examine my life and
friendships. As I read it, the Spirit
kept bringing out for me the word TRUST.
So I went to the word of God for further guidance, because like many of
you, I have been hurt in my life by so-called friends. My question to myself and to you is, “was it
really just their fault that I got hurt?” So let’s examine some scripture:
Proverbs 18:24 A
man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a
friend who sticks closer than a brother. (NKJV)
24 There are “friends” who destroy
each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. (NLT)
24 Friends come and friends go, but a
true friend sticks by you like family. The
Message
I used all
three versions of the same scripture, because each breaks down how friendship can be.
Can you relate? What stands out
to me in all three is how we have to be a friend first, and then also how the
friendship is brought to a familial sense….a brother (or sister). Now look at
these verses:
Proverbs
12:26 The
righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads
them astray. (NKJV)
26 The godly give good advice to
their friends; the wicked lead them astray. (NLT)
26 A good person survives misfortune,
but a wicked life invites disaster. The
Message
Now we see
how the Word says that we have to choose
friends carefully. Verse 26 also
shows us that if we choose wrong, or a wicked person, we will be led astray and
have disaster invited into our lives.
That is deep. The word of God
brings such clarity for every aspect of our lives. God loves us so much that He will give us
wisdom to choose the right friends.
These friends should be our brothers and sisters in Christ, in the
family of God. Even within the family of
God, the body of Christ, we have to use wisdom and be guided by the Holy
Spirit. Friends give grace, encourage
one another, and provide good advice from the word of God. Are you a friend? By the love and friendship of God, we can be
a good friend and choose our friends wisely.
Thank you Lord Jesus that you love us,
know us and care even about who our friends are. Lord help us to choose wisely those we invite
into our lives. Thank you for always
being the friend we need most.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment