Life Talk Devotion 04/12/2024
Some people are fortunate to have many good friends in a lifetime. Others may only have one or two that they consider people they can bare their soul to. Friendships typically can be described at several levels of relational depth—acquaintances, casual friends, close friends, and best friends. When you find that special, best friend they tend to exhibit quality traits like unconditional love, forgiveness, support, and empathy. As we go through life, we recognize those intimate friendships are sadly uncommon.
The book of Proverbs speaks to the value of good friendships in this way – “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:23-24)”. A quick study of the word “friend” just in the book of Proverbs highlights the importance Scripture places on friendship and other intangible values like loyalty and integrity.
One of the classic friendships portrayed in the Bible is that of King David and Johnathan, son of King Saul. The depth of their bond and willingness to sacrifice, even die for each other, stands as the model for what it means to be a best friend (See 1 Samuel 18:1-4). All of us need a friend who we can share tears with and someone that will not forsake us in the times of trouble.
Yes, there is a friend like that we can call on; who does stick closer than a brother. The book of Romans in the Bible describes Him as the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The following verses portray the love and favor God has extended through His Son for all who will believe and trust Him.
What Can Separate Us From His Love – Romans 8:31-35
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:31-35
Jesus did not hesitate to call His followers “friends” (John 15:14-16). Yet, as the Romans verses remind us, He is more than a friend but One who is an advocate for us to champion our battles and to pray for us in our time of need. More importantly, Jesus Christ can satisfy our greatest need, that of a Savior. He paid the price as the sinless sacrifice through His death on the cross for our sin. Something that we never could do on our own. Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
Paul, the writer of the book of Romans, asks the rhetorical question “what can separate us from the love of Christ?“. Obviously, the answer is nothing. But Paul goes on to elaborate in a powerful discourse in verse 38 & 39. “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus Christ is the One who will stick closer than a brother. The Gospel of John tells us “But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13
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