A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. – Proverbs 17:17
Over the course of your life, you have probably had a number of friends. Early on, you rode bicycles or skated with them; as teens, you shared secrets or competed together in sports; as adults, there was recipe or tool sharing, with tips on child-rearing tossed in. Life and its progressions bring friends of all shapes, sizes, economic positions, and cultural differences. A friend is a friend, and there are no qualifiers.
While Jesus had multitudinous followers, he had just a dozen or so close friends. And among them, he had an “inner circle” of those with whom He was truly close: Peter, James, and John. As it was important for Jesus to have friends, it is equally important that you have companions with whom you share your faith walk. Being a friend is not only an honor, it is a responsibility. Friendships need tending. Like a garden of vegetables or flowers, close relationships require cultivation.
In John 15, Jesus calls His disciples friends. He extends that friendship to you. Your relationship with the Lord requires nurturing. Spend time with Him so that, as you are built up by the Holy Spirit, you will be able to build up one another also. Pray for Christians in Congress to seek one another out and build friendships that are mutually supportive and encouraging.
Today’s Verse: Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: John 15:9-17
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
