Friendship has been on my mind lately. Both how to be a quality friend and what I need in a friend. I wrote this short devotional for the conference I attended a few weeks back and was grateful that I did. Though I had written this mainly for teens, it allowed me a time to dive into the true meaning of friendship and why we thrive off of solid relationships. Given what has been on my heart this week, I thought it was appropriate to revisit the truth Scripture shares with us about simply being a good friend.
Do you ever find yourself disappointed by friends? There have been plenty of times when I’ve letdown a friend, even when I didn’t intend to. Inevitably, there are risks involved in every relationship—even Jesus was betrayed by His closest friends during His deepest time of need (Mark 14:1–51 NIV).
Still, Jesus selflessly responded to betrayal by washing his disciples’ feet, a humble act usually performed by servants (John 13:2–5). He knew that His disciple Judas would eventually play a part in His death, but continued to cleanse Judas’ feet as a symbol of loving service. Jesus also predicted Peter’s denial of their relationship (Matthew 26:69–74), but confidently forgave the rejection in spite of the hurt.
Scripture tells us there are certain characteristics to look for in a friend: someone who is loyal (Proverbs 17:17), truthful (Proverbs 27:5–6, 9) and encourages you to be your best (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). Before holding others to these standards, can you confidently say you display these characteristics as well? Consistently striving to be a true friend will lead to the fruitful and deep relationships God intends for us to have (Psalm 133:1).
Indeed, sincere friends are hard to come by (Proverbs 20:6). But if we’re willing to follow Jesus’ lead and also seek out godly friends, the rewards of fellowship will always outweigh the risks.
Thought for the Day: How will my relationships grow when I choose to serve and love my friends as Jesus did?
