4:327 – Best Friend(s)

#faithbite #faithjourney best

Setting

Most of us have friends or acquaintances. Those people who, to use the Hawaiian term, “talk story” with. We have a drink, go to a movie, and just move in and out of circles with them. We are blessed for that. Some of us have a best friend or friends. These are those people who go above and beyond and love us no matter what. Here are two ways that I describe a best friend. One is a saying, “friends help you move. Real friends help you move bodies”. Yes, it’s a joke. But think about it, if you were in the worst trouble of your life, who would you call. The second situation was this week. I had a joke that was very bad, funny but very bad, and required intimate knowledge of myself and another situation. There were literarily two people in the world that I knew who would find it funny and appreciate it. That’s what I call Best Friends. I am blessed that God gave me my best friend 26 years ago and we are still together.

Today’s Questions: Who do you describe your best friend? What sets your best friend apart from your other friends?

Scripture

• 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
• Colossians 3:13 –  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
• Ecclesiastes 4:10 – If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
• Job 42:10 – After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before

Reflection

For today’s reflection, we will look at the friendship characteristic illustrated by each scripture.

• 1 Thessalonians – Friends are to help and build each other up. We can’t do it alone. Our friends know our strengths and our weaknesses and help us use our strengths and overcome our weaknesses.
• Colossians – Friends forgive! I’ve fought with my best friend many times. We’ve disagreed and had issues with each other. But, we forgave, grew, and were always there for each other. THis is the “Be Like Jesus’ moment. Forgive
• Ecclesiastes – LIke 1 Thessalonians, we need to pick our friends up. Making mistakes doesn’t make us weak. Having friends to pick us up, is the key. They dust us off, and help us grow.
• Job – I’ve read this many times, but today got something different about it. Job was down and out several times but never lost faith. Here is prayed, not for himself, but for his friends. We was rewarded for his faith and love of his friends. God wants us to be there for our friends and help them no matter what.

I don’t think I’d be where I am without my best friend. He’s my brother from another mother…and father.

As we close, let us be thankful for our best friends, and remember that we need to nurture that relationship as they will always be there for us.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for putting people in our lives who love us, can help us, and dust us off when we fall down. We are especially thankful for our best friends. For those that have a BFF (best friend forever), help us be true friends, gracious, kind, and caring. For those that do not have one, we pray that you will put someone in their life to help them through the struggles of life. We know that you will aid us and help us. We pray all this in your name, Amen.

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