FRIENDS

FRIENDS,     “WORTH CONSIDERING”    3/29/19   (Across my desk yesterday.)

Today’s Scripture
“And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.”  (James 2:23, NIV)

Friend of God
The all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe wants to be your friend today. That’s why He created you—first and foremost—to have a loving relationship with you. It’s as simple as opening your heart to Him. If you have faith in God today, then just like Abraham, you are God’s friend. The Bible says that God is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. That means He is faithful. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you. He is with you always. He is mindful of you—that means He is always thinking of you. What an honor and privilege it is to be called God’s friend! Let that sink down into your heart today. The next time the enemy tries to tell you that you are alone in this world, or that no one else understands what you are going through, just say out loud, “I am a friend of God.”

A Prayer for Today
“Heavenly Father, thank You for being my friend today. Thank You for loving me and for being faithful to me. Help me to understand Your friendship today so that I can be a better friend to those around me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

My Comments:
For me, finding a friend, has been very illusive.   I grew up as an only child with both parents not knowing the difference between work and play.  Had some kids that I played with as a kid,  but no one that really knew what was going on inside of me.  Arnold beat me in Monopoly,  Walker’s dad owned the bus company for free rides,  Chick’s dad owned a bakery so free food.  Ended up going to about 10 grade schools, 4 high schools and 4 different colleges and 2 seminaries.  So we moved around a bunch and seems like I kept the habit,  but few friends.  Army was not that much friendly either.

But then in 1955 I began to learn about Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit and over the years we are becoming the best of friends.  He is always honest with me and loves me inspite of my self conteredness and anti social skills,  but doing better as time moves along.  But in a way, it has been rather good for me as I do not compromise at all because of a friendships.  Often I have seen folks manipulated from being Christ Centered to being friend centered and falling into a mud puddle.  The Blind leading the Blind and they both fall into the ditch.  So often as we take a stand for Christ Jesus in the Holy Spirit and the enemy will send some one we love in our family to try to drag us off in another direction.  Christ Jesus was very clear about this in Luke 14:26: