A True and Loyal Friend
Jesus is a perfect friend. We would do well to look at him as our model. First of all, Jesus is not a fair weather friend. He is not in his friendships for what he can get out of them. He is not like the friends of the prodigal son who enjoyed spending all his money but were nowhere around when he was starving (Luke 15:14-16). Instead, Jesus waits patiently and gives liberally, like the prodigal's father (Luke 15: 20, 22). Jesus always remains faithful, no matter how we treat him. Jesus washed the feet of his closest friends, the disciples, knowing that those very same would soon turn and run from him. He even washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, his betrayer (John 13:5, 10-11). In fact, when Judas arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus called him, "my friend" (Matthew 26:50). Jesus, unlike the disciples, loved at all times. He truly fulfilled the proverb, "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need" (Proverbs 17:17).
Have you been hurt by a friend - deserted, betrayed, denied? You are in good company, but like Jesus, keep on loving and you might yet restore the relationship. Paul talked about how his heart ached because of how his friends in the church in Corinth treated him. He wrote, "If there is a problem between us, it is not because of a lack of love on our part" (2 Corinthians 6:12). This is the sort of self-forgetfulness involved in being a true and loyal friend.
So what does that mean for me? It means listening to my friend patiently when she is struggling, instead of anxiously wanting to spend time on my own problems! It means looking after my friend's children one more time, even when it's inconvenient and I have a sneaking suspicion that she might be taking advantage of me. It means setting aside my plans for her plans. In other words, it means living a flexible life in order to allow God to plan my agenda on behalf of those who may need my time today. Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend is always loyal." Christ loved his friends like this. I must love mine. A true friend stays friends!
Jesus is a perfect friend. We would do well to look at him as our model. First of all, Jesus is not a fair weather friend. He is not in his friendships for what he can get out of them. He is not like the friends of the prodigal son who enjoyed spending all his money but were nowhere around when he was starving (Luke 15:14-16). Instead, Jesus waits patiently and gives liberally, like the prodigal's father (Luke 15: 20, 22). Jesus always remains faithful, no matter how we treat him. Jesus washed the feet of his closest friends, the disciples, knowing that those very same would soon turn and run from him. He even washed the feet of Judas Iscariot, his betrayer (John 13:5, 10-11). In fact, when Judas arrived at the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus called him, "my friend" (Matthew 26:50). Jesus, unlike the disciples, loved at all times. He truly fulfilled the proverb, "A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need" (Proverbs 17:17).
Have you been hurt by a friend - deserted, betrayed, denied? You are in good company, but like Jesus, keep on loving and you might yet restore the relationship. Paul talked about how his heart ached because of how his friends in the church in Corinth treated him. He wrote, "If there is a problem between us, it is not because of a lack of love on our part" (2 Corinthians 6:12). This is the sort of self-forgetfulness involved in being a true and loyal friend.
So what does that mean for me? It means listening to my friend patiently when she is struggling, instead of anxiously wanting to spend time on my own problems! It means looking after my friend's children one more time, even when it's inconvenient and I have a sneaking suspicion that she might be taking advantage of me. It means setting aside my plans for her plans. In other words, it means living a flexible life in order to allow God to plan my agenda on behalf of those who may need my time today. Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend is always loyal." Christ loved his friends like this. I must love mine. A true friend stays friends!
....Daily Study Bible for Women(NLT)....
Friendship
• Good friends listen to each other.
• Good friends don't put each other down or hurt each other's feelings.
• Good friends try to understand each other's feelings and moods.
• Good friends help each other solve problems.
• Good friends give each other compliments.
• Good friends can disagree without hurting each other.
• Good friends are dependable.
• Good friends respect each other.
• Good friends are trustworthy.
• Good friends give each other room to change.
• Good friends care about each other.
“Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there”
"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words."
"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out."
"True friendship isn't about being there when it's convenient; it's about being there when it's not."
1 comment:
I haven't been "out for a walk" in the cyberhood for many weeks it seems.
My wife and I have been following the S.C. Chapman story. How sad for them. This video (post below) is quite a tribute to what a normal life they shared in spite of his schedule. It seemed like I heard his song "Cinderella" several times a week since its release, but I haven't heard it since this tragedy.
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