August 30, 2023 | Martin Luther – Day 14
“Depressed hearts should flee solitude and engage in any sort of conversation with friends, for conversations contribute to diverting the heart from heavy thoughts.”
Martin Luther
Of all the many gifts God has given us, friendship is among the greatest. In times of trouble, heartache, and conflict, friends help us to quiet the strife and calm the storms. They laugh, even at our bad jokes and they cry with us even though they themselves are not undergoing the same hardships.
Proverbs 17:17 tells us that a friend “loves at all times.” Even when we have wronged a friend in some way, the strength of that friendship defines itself in its forgiveness.
Ecclesiastes 4 reminds us that “Two are better than one….for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.” Friends help us to endure our struggles and overcome our trials. They help to build us up when we have done our best to tear ourselves down. Friends stick by us when the rest of the world has written us off.
We sing a song in our children’s chapels sometimes that’s entitled, “Jesus is My Best friend.” This used to bother me because, to relegate Jesus to mere friend seemed lacking. But that’s not what Jesus sees in friendship. John 15:13 introduced what real friendship was saying, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”
This declaration of friendship helped me to better define what a true friend is. In life, very few would offer their life for another. That takes a very special kind of love. That would involve a godly type of friendship.
Jesus defined what a true friend is as only He could. By giving His life, He allowed us to live in His righteousness. Through His death we were brought back to life. Because of His sacrifice, we have been saved because He has paid the price for us that we could never pay.
Today, let your friends know how much they are loved. Let them know that in their times of trial, they can count on you to be dedicated to their needs.
Our Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the incredible gift of friendship. May we treat our friends as you have treated us, your friends through Christ. Help us to be good examples of what you have created friendship to be. Amen.
