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...the Bible tells me so:
Recession is such an ugly word after so much prosperity. Then, there is the Christmas Season. Many businesses survive, or better, succeed, on how much people purchase during the holidays. However, each one of these measurements is focused on money!
Public school started here in Sealy this week. I know that most of those children were not so much interested in English or Math or Science or History. They were interested in their friends. While some they saw over the course of the summer, many they had to wait for summer to end to see their friends.
Solomon wrote, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Prov 17:17). We all need friends, good friends, to help us through the hard times. What kind of friendship is truly valuable? It’s that friendship which encourages us, teaches us, points us to doing what is right, as Solomon continued:
He who covers over [forgives] an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends (17:9)
He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend (22:11)
Better is open rebuke than hidden love. The kisses of an enemy may be profuse, but faithful are the wounds of a friend (27:5-6)
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel (27:9)
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (27:17)
Since friends help friends to do what is right and stay away from the wrong, it is no wonder that King David wrote, “I am a friend to all who fear you [God], to all who follow your precepts” (Psa 119:63 NIV). Friends don’t tell friends to lie, cheat or steal. In fact, we are Jesus’ friend, as He says, “You are My friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14).
Jesus demonstrated that He is our Friend. He said, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (v. 13). He sacrificed His life on a gnarly cross for our benefit. He brings us to His Father for life, joy and peace.
As Christians, we are a family of friends. John, the apostle of love closed his third letter with these words, “Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends, every one of them” (3 John 15). We invite you to join this privileged fellowship.
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2nd &
Wallace |
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