Friend

Recently, one word in my vocabulary has been sticking out to me. That word is “friend”. Friend is a word I’m sure we have all been familiar with since a young age and is one we all use fairly regularly. Friend is the word we use to describe our relationship with someone else. We have all kinds of friends; most generally all from different times and interests and scenarios in our lives. They are unique to us.

We have best friends, the best friend, good friends, old friends, new friends, ex-friends, school friends, church friends, work friends, friends we call friends but actually aren’t that close to. You all know the ones. Maybe you have few, maybe you have many, maybe you feel like you don’t have any. Whatever the case may be, how often do you throw that word around?

What a friend we have in Jesus.

This is a line from a hymn, but also a simple truth. Jesus was the only perfect human to walk the earth. He was and is, quite literally, a great friend.

Biblically, a friend is described as someone who would lay down his life for you ( John 15: 12-13). A friend is someone who is there and loving you for all occasions (Proverbs 17:17). A friend is there to pick you up when you fall down, and warm you when you’re cold (Ecclesiastes 4:10-11). A friend is there to encourage you (1 Thessalonians 5:11). A friend is there to call you out and keep you accountable (Proverbs 27:17). A friend sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). A friend prays for you and intercedes (Job 16:20-21). A friend forgives (Colossians 3:13). A friend helps carry your burden(Galatians 6:2).

Starting to get the picture? Christ was all these things. Perfectly. Jesus is a friend.

I’m not saying you can’t call the people in your life friends. It’s good to have them.

Ecclesiastes 4 says to pity the person who doesn’t have someone to pick them up and dust them off because friends have a good return for another. Two are better than one. So, I’m not saying cast out all people in your life either. However, I am saying, that we should try our very best to be Biblical examples of friends.

We should encourage others. We should forgive and give accountability. We should be available and prayerful. Job was restored twice the amount of his fortunes from the Lord because he prayed for his friends. (Job 42:10)

The word friend deserves some weight. It can be a hard job (especially if you’re mine #handful) but it is so rewarding to know you are getting to be there for someone and watch them grow in the Lord. We are given each other as a gift.

Who are your Biblically accurate friends?

Are you being a Biblically accurate friend?

These are questions I would prompt you to think about this week. If you don’t have any, start being one. You will be rewarded. What a friend you have in Jesus.

If you don’t know where to start, a quick journey through Proverbs gives plenty of insight into what a good friend looks like and what a bad friend can be. If Proverbs seems too daunting, try the question “what would love do?” in every situation you find yourself in this week.

Because being a friend means being love in action. It looks like the word charity; It looks like the person, Jesus.

Now that you know how serious I am about the usage of the word friend; I feel pretty comfortable calling you mine. I cherish you reading my words when I write them. You’re a good friend for doing that. I pray you have a blessed week, friend. I love you; you’re not alone.