No Holy Huddles

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”

PROVERBS 17:17

 

PONDER THIS

Jesus ministered to us in His friendship. God came from Heaven down to Earth to be in human form with us. Jesus is a friend of sinners! There are lost people out there who need the love and friendship of Jesus Christ. As His body, we’re now to be reaching out to those yearning for love and friendship.

Christians need to set the tone and the atmosphere in the communities in which we live and the places we go. We need to be approachable and real. When people are experiencing heartache, tears, and real problems, they’re not primarily interested in your answers; they are interested in who will be with them.

In this way, you point to Christ, the One who is with us in our sorrows. We’ve got to show the beauty, love, grace, and kindness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. You may think you are friendly, but are you letting people in? We often have little holy huddles and brag about how we love one another. But standing there are broken people who need someone to go deeper and care for what they are going through. That’s what Jesus does and what we are called to do, too.

Who is struggling around you? What are some ways you can care for them like Christ?

When has someone ministered to you by caring for you in a difficult time? How did that point to Christ?

PRACTICE THIS

Invite a non-Christian to coffee or to a meal so you can get to know that individual and understand what that person is going through.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You Have Friends You Can Count On?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” Romans 12:10-12

 

PONDER THIS

There was an English publication that had a contest to give the best definition of a friend. Here are some that won honorable mentions. One person said, “A friend is somebody who multiplies your joys and divides your griefs.” Another said, “A friend is someone who understands your silence.” But the one that won was this, “A friend is somebody who comes in when all the world has gone out.”

Do you have a friend you can count on like that? A friend who loves at all times? It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. Somebody wrote these words as a take on 1 Corinthians 13:

Friendship is slow to lose patience. It looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive. It is neither anxious to impress others, nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. Friendship has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage at the other’s expense. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of slights or gloat over the mistakes of the other. On the contrary, it is glad when truth prevails. It knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no failing of its hope, and in this it can outlast anything. True friendship stands when all else has fallen.

Now, do you have a friend like that? Are you a friend like that? Be faithful in your friendships.

When has a friend exemplified faithfulness to you?

How have your friendships encouraged your relationship with Jesus?

PRACTICE THIS

Meet with a friend and provide listening ears and support.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Who are Your True Friends?

 

PRAY OVER THIS

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

 

PONDER THIS

There was a publication that ran a contest for a definition of friendship, and there were some great entries. One of them was, “A friend is somebody who multiplies our joys and divides our grief.” Another was, “A friend is somebody who understands our silence.” Those things are true of friendship, but here’s the one that won the prize: “A friend is someone who comes in when the whole world goes out.”

We need friends! We need friends who will strengthen us with their prayers, who will bless us with their love, and who will encourage us with their hope. A friend is on the scene when you need him or her. A friend is somebody wise enough to leave you alone when needed. A friend is there to help you to celebrate when there’s something to celebrate.

A friend is somebody who sharpens. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” A good friend will sharpen you, but a false friend will blunt and dull your life. Our English word friend relates to the word freedom because a friend is somebody who sets you free to be all that you can be. A friend is somebody who encourages you and knows how to speak the word that will draw you out and lead you on.

Who has been a good Christian friend to you?

How have you been sharpened by that friend?

PRACTICE THIS

Reach out to a friend that has been there for you and sharpened you. Tell your friend about the impact he or she has made on your life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You a Selfless Friend?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” 1 Samuel 18:1

 

PONDER THIS

Jonathan loved David as Jonathan loved his own soul. That tells me, to begin with, that I cannot love anybody unless I first love me. Now some of us have been told that we’re not supposed to love ourselves. Of course, we’re supposed to love ourselves. Jesus said we’re to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. If I hate me, then what am I going to do to you? As a matter of fact, it is not until I have a healthy self-conception and I am secure in the Lord that I am free to love somebody else. No longer do I feel vulnerable. No longer am I afraid to give up something in me. I can share me because I love me and, therefore, I can love someone else. As we have a healthy view of ourselves, we are free to show selfless love to others. Jonathan loved David as he loved his own soul. Their friendship was a selfless friendship, and it was an unconditional friendship.

Who is the most selfless friend you know?

How does selflessness contribute to a good friendship? How might you act selflessly for others this week?

PRACTICE THIS

Do something selfless for a friend. Consider something that is of no direct benefit to you but will bless another person greatly.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Value of Godly Friends

PRAY OVER THIS

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

 

READ THIS

Some of the greatest joys and disappointments of life are related to friendships. Our deepest longing, whether we’re young or old, is for enduring friendships. We all want to commune with someone who truly understands our deepest needs, our highest aspirations, and our worst fears.

We have friendships with many different types of people, but we should make sure to surround ourselves with people who will point us to the Lord.

This is especially true for our children. The wrong kind of friend is a great danger to a child because we ultimately become like our friends. We all start out lacking spiritual wisdom and understanding. Children are easily led into error, ready to believe anything. All of us, especially teenagers, need friends that will point us toward the Lord and the things that glorify Him.

CONSIDER THIS

How do you evaluate the value of your friendships?

How can you balance seeking to be friends with all kinds of people but also seeking to surround yourself with close friends who love the Lord?

DO THIS

Take time to encourage one of your friends in the Lord today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Do You Have a Friend Who Sharpens You?

BIBLE MEDITATION

“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

True friends will put an edge on your life. They will make you a sharper person. Not all my friends do that for me, but my best friends do. Have you ever had a friend who loved you so much that he would even hurt you in order to help you?

Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” What truer words of love can be spoken than from the heart of a friend who is going to spend eternity with you? Even if those words hurt, they are words that will heal.

ACTION POINT

Do you have a friend who sharpens you as iron? It will only take you a moment to send that friend an encouraging note or postcard. That’s more meaningful than a text or a post. Do it today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

The Five Qualities of Friendship

BIBLE MEDITATION:

 “Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.” 1 Peter 3:8

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

There are five qualities of friendship.

1. Harmony. We are to be of one mind, not necessarily singing the same note, but complimenting one another.

2. Sympathy. We hurt when friends hurt. The world is looking for friends like this.

3. Fraternity. We are to love one another like brothers. There is no brotherhood like the brotherhood in Jesus Christ.

4. Pity. If you want to be a real friend, you’re going to have to feel deeply. You’ll need to put yourself in the place of the other person.

5. Humility. Genuine courtesy is thinking of the other person’s needs before your own. You are less concerned with your rights, and more concerned about the relationship.

ACTION POINT:

Begin to develop these characteristics of friendship in your life and watch God change your world!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

True Friendship

BIBLE MEDITATION:

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

True friends will put an edge on your life. They will make you a sharper person. Not all my friends do that for me, but my best friends do. Have you ever had a friend who loved you so much that he would even hurt you in order to help you?

Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” What truer words of love can be spoken than from the heart of a friend who is going to spend an eternity with you? Even if those words hurt, they are words that will heal.

ACTION POINT:

Do you have a friend who sharpens you as iron? It will only take you a moment to send that friend an encouraging note or postcard. Do it today.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers