Our scripture for the Daily Devotional today is taken from Proverbs 18: 15-24. We may be joint-heirs in Christ and part of God’s family, but we are friends too! We can also reach beyond the family of God and friend anyone around us.
“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
for the ears of the wise seek it out.
16 A gift opens the way
and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
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17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
until someone comes forward and cross-examines.
18 Casting the lot settles disputes
and keeps strong opponents apart.
19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city;
disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the Lord.
23 The poor plead for mercy,
but the rich answer harshly.
24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Having good friends is the key to a happy life. Friends have chosen a relationship with us because we are that wonderful! A true friend is one that will stick closer than a brother through the hardest times of life too.
So often we can see in our children how they are influenced and swayed by their friends. They start to behave and make decisions based on that friend’s thoughts or opinions. These unreliable friends will only bring ruin to everything. We have seen how friends like this disappear when circumstances do not match their needs.
Sometimes we will hear the hardest truth from a true friend. Someone who is willing to tell us what we do not want to hear, they are a true friend! Stay close to them as they will sharpen you as iron sharpens iron!
Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you, God, that you have given me the friends that I have. Thank you that my friends care enough for me to say the hardest things.. Help me to not only be thankful for each friend but to play an important role and say the hard things needed!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen