marriage, there is no legal binding or separating of the relationship. But like marriage, it will last a long time and produce wondrous fruit if I allow God to make the choices, set the standards, and be the binding that causes it to grow for many years. Let’s see what God says about friends. Proverbs is a good place to start.
Gossip is no good! It causes hard feelings and comes between friends. Proverbs 16:28 (CEV)
Sounds like I need to be careful whom I listen to! Does the one that I call ‘friend’ speak constructively of other people or does he/she constantly find fault with everyone? If she is a faultfinder – it will sure makes me wonder what she may say about me when I’m not around! Also, is there a spirit of loyalty to the friends that God has given me? I need to remember that what God says about me or about my friends is the truest thing – not the ‘gossip’ that is spoken by others!
A friend is always a friend, and relatives are born to share our troubles. Proverbs 17:17 (CEV)
In good times and tough times, the friend that God has brought into my life loves me in spite of myself. That person sees me as a ‘work in progress’ and rejoices when I repent and grow in faith. They take their cue from God and forgive and forget!
Some friends don’t help, but a true friend is closer than your own family. Proverbs 18:24 (CEV)
This is a ‘hard Word’ from the Lord. It tells me that God is sending me friends that will walk as Jesus did. I remember when I came to realize that while I would always care about my friends, those that I had known for many years, even from childhood, but that there were some that I was going to have to ‘cut loose’. Jesus was not a #1 priority in their life and they led a life that was MY ‘old life’ and I couldn’t sit on the fence anymore. I could care about them and pray for them but I couldn’t hang with them anymore. Many of them couldn’t accept the ‘new Jody’. It was a very painful time. Some have remained in touch and we can ‘agree…to disagree’ about many things. Others decided that the change was too much and so they have left.
You can trust a friend who corrects you, but kisses from an enemy are nothing but lies. Proverbs 27:6 (CEV)
This might be translated that the truth from a friend is always better than flattery from an enemy. An arrow from God, ‘shot’, so to speak, through a friend can bring about a painful truth but the Holy Spirit will confirm God’s truth to me and I will be glad and rejoice in that friend who was obedient to speak what the Lord gave them…speaking always in love.
I’m going to stop right now and pray for my God-given friends. I am going to pray that God will bless them with all that they need to come closer to Him and know Him more intimately.
Questions: What makes a friend more than an acquaintance or neighbor?
Week 11
You had my mother give birth to me. You made me trust you while I was just a baby. I have leaned on you since the day I was born; you have been my God since my mother gave me birth. Psalm 22:9-10 (NCV)
I have been reading a book, Experiencing the Father’s Embrace by Jack Frost. He and his wife minister to pastors and leadership, having a vision that we would all ‘see’ the total love that our Father has for us. One of the anonymous stories he relates was when a couple came for prayer with two small sons. The woman wept as she confessed that she did not know how to love. She had never experienced the unconditional love of a father and so she had no point of reference to give the same to her children. Her five-year-old son innocently turned to her and told her that he would show her how to love.
I am easily frustrated when I am asked to do something I don’t know how to do. I sense this mother was feeling that kind of frustration. Jesus knew I would have days like that and He spoke words just for those times.
At that time the followers came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
Jesus called a little child to him and stood the child before his followers. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you must change and become like little children. Otherwise, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child.” Matthew 18:1-4 (NCV)
When a child doesn’t know something, he/she will tug on your sleeve and ASK for help! It is a simple equation to them – I don’t know so I ask someone who does and then I’ll know. Period.
When I do not know how to receive the Father’s love, I can take my clue from someone who does, a child, and just hold my arms out and take it in. When a child receives a parent’s love, there are no barriers or preconceived ideas about how it will be delivered, he/she just knows it’s coming and they hold their arms wide open and just receive it!
When I do not know how to give the Father’s love, I can take my clue from someone who does, Jesus, who like a child, throws His arms out without any barriers or preconceived ideas about how it will flow out, and He just lets it happen!
Receiving must come before the giving and it is so, SO important that I take the time to allow my Father to pour out His love on me. I need nutrients for my physical body. I need ‘Father love’ for my spiritual life.
Let’s just stop and be quiet and receive our Heavenly Father’s love. Shhh.
Suggestion: Sit for at least five minutes quietly, listening.
Read Jeremiah 31:3 and Psalm 139
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