Daily Devotional

Have you ever picked berries from the vine?  You gently, carefully pluck the juicy berry from the vine taking care to not get scratched by the prickly thorns.  You pop the berry in your mouth and taste the sweet explosion of flavor. So good. The prize is a basket of berries and a few scratches. Is it worth the risk of getting a few scratches? Yes, it is. Friendship is a big risk. It can hurt, and friends can betray you. Is it worth the heartache? It is absolutely worth it! It requires sacrifice and thinking of others as more important than yourself.

For some people, their profession complicates their quest for friendship.  I remember observing my Dad, who was a police officer struggle with friendship.  People would invite us over for dinner. At the dinner table, my Dad was subjected to a long-winded explanation of our host’s unjust traffic ticket. They were not interested in being friends—they just wanted to complain. Many years ago, I attended a Pastor’s Wives Retreat. There were about fifty women in attendance. The speaker asked the women to raise their hands if they had a true friend in their church. Only three people out of the group raised their hands. I was shocked. I determined that would not happen to me. I committed to working hard on developing friendships in the church, in spite of the pitfalls. I decided to never give up on friendship. God revealed to me the people He wanted me to befriend. Through the ups and downs of life’s trials, friends have been there for me as I have tried to be there for them. It is true, if you want friends you have to be a good friend yourself.

The strongest argument for the value of friendship is found in the Bible. You can read about God’s friends:

1. Moses: Exodus 33:11a - “Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.”
   
   
2. Abraham: James 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to Him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God.
   
   
3. Lazarus: John 11:11 and after He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I go, so that I may awaken him out of sleep.”
   
   
4. _______: John 15:14 - “You are My friends if you do what I command you.”
   CAN YOU FILL IN YOUR NAME? How awesome to be called God’s friend.

God modeled friendship for us. Jesus sacrifice displayed His commitment to us. Are we willing to be God’s friend?

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.