THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS WEEKS DEVOTIONAL.
IT IS MY PRAYER THAT THRU MY WRITINGS
THAT YOU WILL BE GUIDED TO
GODS WORD AND HIS TRUTH.
THE LOVE OF A FRIEND
We don't value our friendships enough. Family is vital, but so are friends.
- Friends give us counsel.
- They give us laughter.
- Friends help us.
- They give us companionship.
PROVERBS 18:24
"A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
HAVE YOU GATHERED A GROUP OF SMALL FRIENDS
THAT "STICK CLOSER THAN A BROTHER?"
HAVE YOU DISTANCED YOURSELF FROM
ALLOWING FRIENDSHIPS TO GROW?
TRUE FRIENDSHIP is a kind of love. Enjoying a true friend can be as joyful as receiving family affection. A true friend gives and takes because love involves both giving and taking.
DO YOU HAVE A TRUE FRIEND?
If your friend is loyal and encouraging ...then you have a true friend!
Loyalty is one of the best qualities to have in life. The loyalty of a friend is something to be cherished. Two examples of loyalty of friends that I recall in the Bible are:
THE STORY OF RUTH
When Ruth tells the grieving Naomi, "Wherever you go, I will go, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried." (found in Ruth 1:16-17)
NOW THAT IS LOYALTY!
THE STORY OF DAVID AND JONATHAN
Jonathan's father wanted to kill his rival, David, but Jonathan, while honoring his father, remains loyal to his close friend. When David hears that both his enemy Saul and his friend Jonathan have been killed, he mourns, "The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen." (found in 2 Samuel 1:19)
LOYALTY IS RARE!
LOVE AND KINDNESS HAVE MANY ASPECTS.
It is easy to love family and friends.
It is easy to love those that love us back.
It is even easier to love those that are lovable.
But what about strangers, enemies and those people that are in need.
HOW EASY IS IT FOR YOU TO LOVE AND BE KIND TO THEM?
In last week's YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I polled the readers the following question, "What acts of kindness are hardest for you?" The top 2 answers were:
60% of those voting, said it would be hard to visit someone in prison.
40% of those polled, voted and said that it would be hard to give money or time to someone in need.
This poll speaks loudly of where our kindness may fall. It may fall easily onto those we love but how difficult it is for us to express love and kindness to those we don't know or who are less fortunate than us. Do we turn our back on these that are looking for kindness?
The reason it is so important for us to love humanity is because God made ALL of us...
The rich
The poor
The believer
The unbeliever
We are ALL valuable to God because we are his chosen people. This fact alone makes loving others praiseworthy! Mistreating the poor, strangers or even our enemies is an insult to God.
But what about strangers, enemies and those people that are in need.
HOW EASY IS IT FOR YOU TO LOVE AND BE KIND TO THEM?
In last week's YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I polled the readers the following question, "What acts of kindness are hardest for you?" The top 2 answers were:
60% of those voting, said it would be hard to visit someone in prison.
40% of those polled, voted and said that it would be hard to give money or time to someone in need.
This poll speaks loudly of where our kindness may fall. It may fall easily onto those we love but how difficult it is for us to express love and kindness to those we don't know or who are less fortunate than us. Do we turn our back on these that are looking for kindness?
The reason it is so important for us to love humanity is because God made ALL of us...
The rich
The poor
The believer
The unbeliever
We are ALL valuable to God because we are his chosen people. This fact alone makes loving others praiseworthy! Mistreating the poor, strangers or even our enemies is an insult to God.
PROVERBS 14:31
" He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy."
Love is about more than just thinking about other people. Love is action. The one who is disabled, the one who is elderly, the poor, the homeless, even the grouchy neighbor ...they are all worthy of our kindness because they are made by God and God loves each and every one of them!
Jesus looked on crowds with compassion. (Matthew 9:36) He was able to look beyond the outside and think of people in terms of their needs. He saw people needing love and needing God.
" He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy."
Love is about more than just thinking about other people. Love is action. The one who is disabled, the one who is elderly, the poor, the homeless, even the grouchy neighbor ...they are all worthy of our kindness because they are made by God and God loves each and every one of them!
Jesus looked on crowds with compassion. (Matthew 9:36) He was able to look beyond the outside and think of people in terms of their needs. He saw people needing love and needing God.
PROVERBS 21:21
"He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor."
If we live a life of love and kindness, we will find the reward of honor in the end. LOVE IS A CHOICE!
WHO ARE YOU CHOOSING TO LOVE AND
EXPRESS KINDNESS TOWARDS THIS WEEK?
Dear Lord, I thank You that you loved me enough to accept me as I am. I pray that You will fill my heart with love and kindness towards those around me that I find difficult. May Your love overflow thru me to those who are hurting and less fortunate than I am. I praise You for using me to speak kindness to someone today. May You find me to be a faithful and loyal friend. AMEN
I have been studying the book of PROVERBS, asking myself if my love for others is worthy of honor? Is my love fleeting or faithful? How can I love others more? Won't you join me in memorizing PROVERBS 21:21 as we pursue to be more loving and loyal in our friendships?
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PLEASE VOTE IN THIS WEEKS POLL....
This weeks poll is located on the side bar, "What do you do when someone lies to you?". Please cast your vote in YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL!
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