THE
BLESSING OF GODLY FRIENDSHIPS
BREAD
17 A
friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
24 A man
of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer
than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)
6 Wounds
from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:6 (NIV)
10 Do not
forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your
brother's house when disaster strikes you-- better a neighbor nearby than a
brother far away. Proverbs 27:10 (NIV)
20 He who
walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)
14 Do not
be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness
have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between
Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (NIV)
5 For
when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were
harassed at every turn--conflicts on the outside, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the
downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but
also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me,
your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than
ever. 2 Corinthians 7:5-7 (NIV)
15 So I
will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If
I love you more, will you love me less? 2 Corinthians 12:15 (NIV)
BUTTER
“(Why does God) bother to speak to
us? The truly staggering answer that the
Bible gives to this question is that God’s purpose in revelation is to make
friends with us. It was to this end that
he created us rational beings, bearing his image, able to think and hear and
speak and love; he wanted there to be genuine personal affection and
friendship, two-sided, between himself and us—a relation, not like that between
a man and his dog, but like that of a father to his child, or a husband to his
wife. Loving friendship between two
persons has no ulterior motive; it is an end in itself. And this is God’s end
in revelation. He speaks to us simply to fulfill the purpose for which we were
made; that is, to bring into being a relationship in which he is a friend to
us, and we to him, he finding his joy in giving us gifts and we finding ours in
giving him thanks”. J I
Packer
“A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds.
A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who
plants kindness gathers love.” St. Basil
“In our
presentation of the Gospel we often focus on what Jesus can do for us. Now don’t get me wrong. Jesus does a lot for us. He forgives us, reconciles us with God, gives
us meaning and eternal life. But the
most important thing about Jesus is He gives us Himself. We have so emphasized the rewards of
following Christ that we have forgotten that following Him, being with Him, knowing
Him, and calling Him ‘Friend’ and ‘Elder Brother’ are far more wonderful and
important than anything else.” Steve Brown
“When sin penetrated the hearts of Adam and Eve, they not only
became alienated from God, but they also became alienated from each other. When
Jesus died on the Cross, He made it possible for all who believe in Him to be
in fellowship with God—and also in godly fellowship with one another. Godly friendships are the evidence of our
belonging to the Lord Jesus Christ. But godly friendships are not found; they
are made. They are built up stone by stone. They are established on biblical
principles.” Michael Youssef
“The
main business of friendship is to sustain and make bearable each other’s
burdens.” Eugene
Kennedy
HEART SAVOR
·
A friend
will stick close by my side and love me as a brother (sister).
·
I can
trust a true friend even if their words are difficult to embrace.
·
I am not
to be yoked with unbelievers – this includes deep friendships.
