Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must
shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother.
I read somewhere a while back (probably in Reader's
Digest)
a little story that went
something like this:
An old man was sitting on his porch in his split
back rocker enjoying the quiet of the countryside. A
couple drove up to his front gate; got out of their
car and walked up to the old man.
"Say, old timer, what kind of folks live in these
parts? Are they nice and friendly? We are thinking
about moving here."
The old man thought a minute and then asked the
couple. "What kind of people was they where you come
from?"
Without hesitation the man said; "They were very
unfriendly and snobbish. We did not like them at
all."
Well said the old man; "I'm afraid that's the kind
of people you'll find here. You probably won't like
it." With that the couple thanked him and drove off.
A few days later another couple stopped and asked
the man the same question. Again the old man asked
them about the people they had lived amongst. Their
reply was: "They were some of the most wonderful and
caring people you could ever hope to meet". "We are
hoping to find a place here where the people are
that way."
To this the old man replied; "That is exactly the
kind of people you will find here."
Friendship is a two-way street. We cannot expect
love from others if we in turn are not willing to
love. Friendship means giving and sharing. It means
hurting together and laughing together. It is
companionship with the freedom of knowing that your
friend would not do anything to purposely hurt you
and you would not do anything to purposely hurt your
friend.
Friendship comes with responsibility. The
responsibility to tell the truth even when the truth
might bring pain and anguish. The Apostle Paul
exhibited this quality when through love he told the
truth even when that truth brought adversity to
himself. When he had to bring admonition to the
Galatian people who did not want to hear the truth
he said: "Am I therefore become your enemy,
because I tell you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16)
The second clause of the verse says: "there is a
friend that sticketh closer than a brother." This is
the true friend. A friend that loves you and desires
to be with you. He will share your laughter and your
sorrow. He will bear your burdens and carry
your heavy load if you will but let Him (1 Pet.
5:7). He is a friend that will never leave
you nor forsake you (Heb. 13:5) even when you turn
your back on Him. He is a friend that will tell you
the truth even when you don't want to hear the
truth.
He is a friend that has died for you (John 15:13)!
His name is Jesus and you could have not better
friend. If you don't have Him as your friend then I
would urge you to make friends with Him. You won't
be disappointed.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not
servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord
doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things
that I have heard of my Father I have made known
unto you.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that
labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for
I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest
unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my
burden is light.
Today's Bible Nugget is written and presented by
Brother Dwight
Poetry Corner
The Way I Look
I’m blessed with the gift of beauty;
Not the kind the world has known.
It’s not about the way I walk
Or the features that I own.
It’s all about the way I see
Everything around me.
It’s a stream, a brook,
And the way I look
Through the eyes of the One who found me.
I’m blessed with the gift of vision;
Not the kind the world has seen.
It’s not about shapes or colors,
Big or small, or in between.
It’s all about the way I see
Everything around me.
It’s a stream, a brook,
And the way I look
Through the eyes of the One who found me.
I look at you with blessed eyes;
I see what money can’t buy.
Love beyond measure in your soul --
The blessed free gift of Life.
It’s all about the way I see
Everything around me.
It’s a stream, a brook,
And the way I look
Through the eyes of the One who found me.
I’m blessed with the gift of riches --
Money can’t buy me this much.
I’m blessed to see so much beauty
In all that the Master’s touched.
It’s all about the way I see
Everything around me.
It’s a stream, a brook,
And the way I look
Through the eyes of the One who found me.
( You are beautiful ! )
© Joyce Pool
--
Brought to you by Pages of My Heart Ministry