Beloved, do you have a best friend? How does friendship enrich your life? Have you ever thought about that we have friends for different seasons for our lives?
My first friend was four and I was seven years old. She lived around the corner from me. We reunited on a trip to Dodge City in 2015, shortly after she went home to Jesus. I have a sweet grade school friend, Sandy. My next forever friend lives in Florida now but we are still in touch. Her name is Jennifer, and we met at Palomar Hospital when I was a business office clerk. She and I did virtually everything from going to Bible Study, Church, to sewing and watching each other’s children. She went to Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) with me and was in leadership with me. Then, there is Ann, she and I met at work. We were home health nurses. And I can’t forget Pam, we lived is the same apartment complex. Julie was Pam’s sister, and their parents adopted Doug and me. I have a friend I went to high school with her name is Jenifer. Lori and Carolyn are here from California. The best place to meet friends is at BSF and I have many here in Springfield, but I am able to visit Karen and Judy. I have several friends from my current job and many from Kaiser where I retired. I have many precious online friends. You all know who you are! How about you do you still have a grade school friend?
Bible Study
Speaking of friends King David had a friend named Jonathan.
When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship,[a] and loved him as much as he loved himself. 2 Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father’s house.
3 Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself. 4 Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
5 David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the fighting men, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well. 1 Kings 18: 1-5
Our word is friendship, and it is in the Bible 3 times. Friends is in the Bible 88 times. Friend is in the Bible 18 times. Such as this verse;
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time. Proverbs 17:17
Jonathan was loyal to David. He supported his friend over his father. In the verse in the meme,
” Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.”
As friends, we are to have compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing one another and forgiving one another. Forgiveness is so important in a relationship. Is there a relationship you need to restore? Forgiveness is the key. Remember, forgiveness is between you and God. “I choose to forgive _____ for______and it made me feel _____.
Poem
My friend summed it up so well in a poem called:
“FRIENDSHP”
Karen L Clark
Friendship is precious
A treasure indeed
A blessing from God
Fulfilling our need.
Glowing with love
From God’s very heart
God is our friend
The best place to start.
A strong, binding tie
Connects heart to heart
Bound to our God
From Him does it start.
A warmth we can feel
A warmth from God’s heart
He loves us so much
He won’t let us part.
So, ask for a friend
And He will gladly send
A Soul with a heart
To be your best friend.
Poem written by Karen L. Clark and I was given permission to post on August 24, 2024
Summary
Jonathan was David’s best friend; Jesus is your best friend. When we ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins, He does, He comes into our hearts and lives and with the help of the Holy Spirt, we encounter a love that we never knew before.
Have you asked Jesus to be your Savior?
16 For God loved the world in this way:[a]He gave[b]his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Father God, thank you for the gift of friendship and the different ways we have to form friendships. I thank you for my valued friendships. Many names I am now thinking of like Barbie who makes my meme’s, Rachelle, Crissy, Shannon, Heather, Gracie. Tammy, Christine, Suzanne, Paula, Michelle, Nancy, Margaret Ann, Kath, Suzie, and Christy. Lord, please provide for my friends, physically, spiritually mentally and financially. In Jesus’s name, Amen
Who is someone you need to reconnect with today?
