Christian Friends

   The clock in the car said 11:00. I was exhausted. Having been up since six, I had been outside in the 95+ degree heat nearly all day. Mom pulled the car into the driveway and retrieved the mail. Glancing at a postcard, she passed it to me with a smile. Quickly, before the lights went off, I searched the bottom to see who it was from. Mom parked the car and everyone got out - except for me. I wanted to see what she had to say as soon as possible. I love getting mail! :) Dear Mattie, it began. I was thinking of you and praying for you today in my devotions... I suddenly didn't feel quite so tired as my face transformed itself into a full-blown smile. As I continued reading, I realized that the verses she had copied were just what I needed that evening. Thank you, Lord, I whispered. Thank you so much for placing her in my life.

   There are so many blessings to having good Christian friends!

1. They encourage us in our walk with the Lord
2. They pull us up - never down
3. God uses them to speak to us
4. They can understand things from our viewpoint better
5. They are whom we can discuss the precious Word of God with 
6. ....and the list keeps going.

   I would like to make something clear before I go any further. I am not in any way saying that we are to have no contact with non-believers or that we are not to share what God has done in our lives with them. Our mission is to spread the gospel! I am simply stating that good Christian friends are an invaluable blessing in our lives. We have the greatest thing in common - being redeemed by the blood of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ!

   Moving right along...  It is very important to have fellowship with other believers! Have you ever had a Bible study, maybe even just one time, with a friend or two? The Bible is God's letter to His children, and what one verse means to you may mean something different to someone else. By sharing with one another what we've learned, we can grow and assist others in their growth in our walk with the Lord.

   By spending most of our time with Christian friends, temptations are reduced. Spending our time with the things and people of God has great eternal value. Have you noticed that even if you aren't directly discussing spiritual things when you're with Christian friends, your whole time together often seems to go smoother, and it becomes easier to do the right thing? I have. Many times.

   I am so very grateful for the Christian friends God has placed in my life. He knows what and who is best for me - and He always makes fantastic choices.

~~

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loveth at all times..."

Proverbs 27:6   "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."

Proverbs 27:17 "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."

I Samuel 18:1b  "...The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul."