“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 KJV)
Songwriter, Joseph Scriven wrote, “What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit. O what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!”
Isaiah wrote, “he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows . . . he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:4-7 KJV) What a friend!
In the troubles and tribulations of our lives, we expect comfort and consolation from our relatives, but sometimes there is a friend, who has no blood bond with us, yet comforts us greatly. In such relationships it is the bond of the Cross, – love , respect, esteem – that proves stronger than those of nature. When it comes to the trial, this friend will do more for us than a blood relative will. Christ is that sort of a friend to all believers. He “sticks” closer than a brother. What a friend!
Dear Father, thank you for being our friend in Christ. Empower us with the fortitude to bring all our worries and cast them on you, since we know that you care for us. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the friendship of Christ,