FRIENDSHIP

“GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS, THAN TO LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS.” JOHN 15:13

Friendship is the willing sacrifice of oneself for the good of another.

True friendship is carved from the hard rock of hurt and conflict. A friend keeps chipping the flint despite cuts and bruises and imperfection. The true friend loves the potential hidden within the stone and believes against all hope for what is yet unseen.
A true friend so longs to bless the other that any thought of himself goes unnoticed. A true friend doesn’t demand his own way. A true friend doesn’t keep a record of wrongs done for love covers a multitude of sins. A true friend is born for adversity and sticks closer than a brother.

Jesus said, “THEY WENT OUT FROM US, BUT THEY WERE NOT REALLY OF US; FOR IF THEY HAD BEEN OF US, THEY WOULD HAVE REMAINED WITH US; BUT THEY WENT OUT, SO THAT IT WOULD BE SHOWN THAT THEY ALL ARE NOT OF US.” 1 John 2:19

However, as Peter experienced, redemption is available to those who are willing to endure the pain of forging a relationship from the broken pieces of earlier failure.

In as much as love covers a multitude of sins, abounding love forgives sins and creates new life.

The test of one’s sincere faith is this; love for God and equal love for fellow man.Are you my friend? Are you a friend of God?

Love is laying down your life for your friend. Amen.