Dear Ones,
Hope you have a great day! Today I plan to do food prep and get some cupboards cleaned. This afternoon is Bible study on the book of Acts.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Friendships are very important in our lives and can actually extend our lives when we have healthy, close relationships with others. A person typically has three to five close friendships, but that number keeps declining, and 49% have three or fewer. Sadly, today many are lonely, and 12% have no close friends at all. I was reading an article by Pastor Mark Moore, who writes about how isolated people are today and how sad that is, for God has designed us for relationships.

Scripture verifies importance of relationships, for Paul writes in Romans 12 that when we know the Lord, we become members of the One body in Christ, and individually members of one another. We are to live in harmony with one another, and rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. That takes relationship! The kind of friends we have is very vital, as we share interests and hopefully godly attitudes. I find that where I am weak, a friend may be strong, and as wise King Solomon said in Prov. 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”

Moore shares how we need to have friends who can give us godly counsel. They can build us up and help us discern what God is saying to us. I know when I e-mail a certain friend, she will speak truth and not tell me what my flesh may want to hear. In each church we have been, the Lord has always seemed to give me close friends that have the prophet gift or the exhorter gift to encourage me, but to also show me the way of truth. Friends can make us better, and they are gifts to us from the Lord. They can stand with us when we go through hard times and point us always to the Lord. King David had Jonathan as a close friend who sacrificed for him, even to the point of the throne.

Most importantly of all, may Jesus be our best friend! He calls us friends if we do what He tells us to do. (John 15:14)

Challenge for today: Give time for your most important Friend (Jesus), and also for Christian friendships He brings into your life.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy