Friends

A Revisited Devotional from August 28, 1998.

John 15:15 – I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. (NIV)

Proverbs 27:9 – Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. (NIV)

I had an astounding and touching thing happen to me. I arrived at school at lunch and ended up talking to Sandy. I don't know why, but I decided to share my innermost thoughts and feelings with her. This is what I told her. Last year when my fortieth birthday arrived, I had two people take me out for lunch. I appreciated this very much. Three months later, my best friend, Susan, had her fortieth birthday also. Nine people took her out for lunch. I confessed to Sandy that I was actually jealous that she had that many friends to invite her. I knew that it was wrong to feel that way, and I had asked God to forgive me for my jealousy. In my heart, I knew that Susan and I are the closest that friends can be, and that all the other people, except one, are "quantity" friends. I then explained to Sandy, that again it was Susan's birthday luncheon, and six friends had been invited. I told Sandy that I was embarrassed by my jealous thoughts. I ended the conversation and started to make comments about leaving. All of a sudden, Sandy stuffed $10 into my pocket and said, "I want to buy your lunch for you! You do so much for everybody else; I want to do this for you!" I was stunned, shocked, and overwhelmed all at the same time. I tried to give the money back to her. This was so unexpected. My emotions let loose, and I cried. We hugged each other. It was then that the realization of the truth of the moment hit. Here I was feeling sorry for myself about not having more friends, when I had one standing right there beside me, and I didn't even realize it! Who could have asked for a better friend? A sensitive, caring individual, who understood perfectly what I was experiencing.

I think that we do that to God, too; sometimes, we don't think about Him at all. When things do not go as planned, when we feel alone and that nobody loves us, and when we think those "How could things be any worse?" kinds of feelings, God is that friend. He is waiting to help us, if we will but ask Him. Sometimes, we don't realize that He is there for us at all times.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for all of our friends, those that we know and care about, and those that You will tell us about when the time is right. Help us to be more sensitive to those around us, so that we can care for them. Teach us how to be a friend to someone else who needs a friend. Thank You for being our Friend, even though we don't deserve it. Thank You for loving us. In Your name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Karen Knuff <knuff.karen@gmail.com>
Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
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