DCLM Higher Everyday 30 July 2024 — Friends Are Forever
DCLM Higher Everyday 30 July 2024 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Friends Are Forever
Topic: Friends Are Forever
Text: Proverbs 27:5-10
5Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
10Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
Key Verse: “Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not” (Proverbs 27: 10).
Message
G. Randolf said, “Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.” I guess you do not have a friend yet if you do not find Randolf’s assertion to be true. A rather classical example of a great friendship was that between David and Jonathan. Neither distance nor difference in social status could separate them. When Jonathan eventually died in war, David lamented over him (2 Samuel 1:25, 26). He later showed Jonathan’s only son, Mephibosheth, kindness for his sake (2 Samuel 9:1-13). That was friendship! Do you know that technology has made friends distance themselves from each other? Many people get hooked up to their smart phones without talking to anyone! This puts a strain on friendship leading to separation. Today is International Day of Friendship!
Our text admonishes that, “Thine own friend and thy father’s friend forsake not.” To have ‘friends forever,’ the followings are necessary:
1. Have the fear of God. 2. Love and care for each other 3. Where possible, visit often, sharing common needs and interests 4. Speak the truth in love as a friend of Christ.
Quote: Love and care for each other
Challenge: Make new friends but don’t forget the old ones.
Prayer for today: Lord help me to maintain true friendship.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
