"Wounds from a friend are better than many kisses
from an enemy." Proverbs 27:6
"The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as
perfume and incense." Proverbs 27:9
I am sure that someone out there needs to hear this today. I heard it in my Spirit very clearly this morning as I was seeking the Lord in prayer. Today's topic is about true friendship. I want to deal with the aspects of a true friend in regard to accountability, but first I will summarize our scope of friendships.
We all have our circle of friends. Some are very intimate friendships where the people know everything there is to know about us. They are the ones who share burdens with us, pray with us, delight in our joys, and weep at our sorrows.
Even Jesus had these kinds of friends! Some would say that Peter and John fell into this category.
Jesus also had a larger circle of twelve that walked closely with him. Some were not as trustworthy or devoted, but nonetheless, he communed with all of them. We too, have a larger circumference of friends that fall into this category.
And still, there are the larger crowds that in mere passing, we meet and find common ground with, but they are not people that we may have daily dealings with. Or, if we do see them often, they are surface relationships that do not touch our core.
All of these relationships are healthy and vital to us. God is a God of relationships and His Word deals specifically with teachings about all kinds of connections we have with people. Each category (for lack of a better term) carries it's own dynamic and importance. My question to you today is... what makes a true friend? Someone who is only there to tell you what you want to hear, or someone who will hold you accountable to God's Word and encourage you toward righteous living? This is vital question. I'm not talking about people who you think are friends that always exhibit a negative attitude... I'm talking about those whom you would consider your best friend(s). What characteristics does she/he display toward you? Honesty? Trustworthiness? Concern? Compassion? Encouragement? Accountability?
OK- there is someone out there that has recently been wounded by a friend. I don't know what the situation is, I only know that someone's heart is broken today and you can't seem to make sense of what happened. If this is for you, God wants you to know that He is using this situation to bring about good results in your life. His Word says in James that no discipline we experience is pleasant at the time, but rather painful. He uses that pain to develop the righteous nature and character in us that He desires. Don't look at this as your friend attacking you. Yes, it was your friend that delivered the "blow", but it was out of concern and love. Step back and truly consider what the Lord is saying to you in this hour. I believe when you do, you will uncover something that has been buried in your heart for a long time that the Lord is wanting to set you free from. After a few days of getting over the shock, you'll begin to see things more clearly and this friend will be redeemed in your eyes as a priceless treasure! Count on God to bring it about! Consider the focus verses for today... the wounds of a friend are better than the kisses from an enemy! You will begin to view this counsel as sweet smelling perfume and incense. It will no longer be a bitter stench in your nostrils!
Even if this word wasn't for you specifically today, we can all stand to be reminded that we have a responsibility as friends. We need to hold each other accountable and value one another enough to speak the truth in love. When we do, we cover a multitude of sins and save our friends from their error. It is then counted unto us as righteousness. We aren't a better friend because we say "yes" to everything our friends think, say, and do. We are most effective when God uses our differences to bring out the best in others... iron sharpens iron as the Word says. I believe we will have to give an account someday of what kind of friend we were and if we drew people closer to God or not.
So, friends, be a godly example of Christ's love today to those you count as friends. Blessings to you today and may God speak to your hearts!
from an enemy." Proverbs 27:6
"The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as
perfume and incense." Proverbs 27:9
I am sure that someone out there needs to hear this today. I heard it in my Spirit very clearly this morning as I was seeking the Lord in prayer. Today's topic is about true friendship. I want to deal with the aspects of a true friend in regard to accountability, but first I will summarize our scope of friendships.
We all have our circle of friends. Some are very intimate friendships where the people know everything there is to know about us. They are the ones who share burdens with us, pray with us, delight in our joys, and weep at our sorrows.
Even Jesus had these kinds of friends! Some would say that Peter and John fell into this category.
Jesus also had a larger circle of twelve that walked closely with him. Some were not as trustworthy or devoted, but nonetheless, he communed with all of them. We too, have a larger circumference of friends that fall into this category.
And still, there are the larger crowds that in mere passing, we meet and find common ground with, but they are not people that we may have daily dealings with. Or, if we do see them often, they are surface relationships that do not touch our core.
All of these relationships are healthy and vital to us. God is a God of relationships and His Word deals specifically with teachings about all kinds of connections we have with people. Each category (for lack of a better term) carries it's own dynamic and importance. My question to you today is... what makes a true friend? Someone who is only there to tell you what you want to hear, or someone who will hold you accountable to God's Word and encourage you toward righteous living? This is vital question. I'm not talking about people who you think are friends that always exhibit a negative attitude... I'm talking about those whom you would consider your best friend(s). What characteristics does she/he display toward you? Honesty? Trustworthiness? Concern? Compassion? Encouragement? Accountability?
OK- there is someone out there that has recently been wounded by a friend. I don't know what the situation is, I only know that someone's heart is broken today and you can't seem to make sense of what happened. If this is for you, God wants you to know that He is using this situation to bring about good results in your life. His Word says in James that no discipline we experience is pleasant at the time, but rather painful. He uses that pain to develop the righteous nature and character in us that He desires. Don't look at this as your friend attacking you. Yes, it was your friend that delivered the "blow", but it was out of concern and love. Step back and truly consider what the Lord is saying to you in this hour. I believe when you do, you will uncover something that has been buried in your heart for a long time that the Lord is wanting to set you free from. After a few days of getting over the shock, you'll begin to see things more clearly and this friend will be redeemed in your eyes as a priceless treasure! Count on God to bring it about! Consider the focus verses for today... the wounds of a friend are better than the kisses from an enemy! You will begin to view this counsel as sweet smelling perfume and incense. It will no longer be a bitter stench in your nostrils!
Even if this word wasn't for you specifically today, we can all stand to be reminded that we have a responsibility as friends. We need to hold each other accountable and value one another enough to speak the truth in love. When we do, we cover a multitude of sins and save our friends from their error. It is then counted unto us as righteousness. We aren't a better friend because we say "yes" to everything our friends think, say, and do. We are most effective when God uses our differences to bring out the best in others... iron sharpens iron as the Word says. I believe we will have to give an account someday of what kind of friend we were and if we drew people closer to God or not.
So, friends, be a godly example of Christ's love today to those you count as friends. Blessings to you today and may God speak to your hearts!
