Daily Bread_October 15, 2013

Title: The Need and Value of a Few Trusted Friends

Text:

Proverbs 18:10 (HCSB)
¹⁰ The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.

Observation:

I woke up this morning with friends on my mind. When I opened my digital bible the Spirit of God guided me to this verse. Hear and heed what the Bible says about friends and friendship:

You have to have a buyer beware awareness when you think about entering into friendships; because there are risks.

Proverbs 18:19 (NLT)
¹⁹ An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.

However, with the risks there are also great rewards.

Proverbs 18:1 (NKJV)
¹ A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.

Paul Tournier says this about the wisdom of having at least one trusted friend:

"No one can develop freely in this world and find a full life without feeling understood by at least one person".

I was a facilitator of "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People".  Good communications is so important in life; Habit 5 says this:

 "Seek first to understand, then to be understood".

Lastly, the most trusted friend you can have is the friend whose best friend is the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 15:12-15 (HCSB)
¹² This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you.
¹³ No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.
¹⁴ You are My friends if you do what I command you.
¹⁵ I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father.

I've found a Friend, oh, such a Friend!
So kind, and true, and tender,
So wise a Counselor and Guide,
So mighty a Defender!
From Him who loves me now so well,
What power my soul can sever?
Shall life or death, or earth or hell?
No? I am His forever.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/288#ixzz2hmqTjGZI

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I am so thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ is my most trusted friend, and that He is my best friend. Father, I am so glad that Your only begotten son is my Savior and my sustainer; without Him I would be lost, and my life empty and void of life. Lord, fill my life with  a few trusted friends that I can love, and who will love me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

James 4:14 (NKJV)
¹⁴ whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

--

Proverbs 30:5 (ESV)
⁵ Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 119:11 (ESV)
¹¹ I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

 http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/