FRIENDSHIP

Proverbs 17:17—A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 18:24—A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

While standing in the immigration line in Narita airport—Tokyo, Japan after a long flight from San Francisco, I heard my name called by a voice from the past. There ahead of me was my best friend from college and five years in the army—Dave Mead. Wow! What are the odds of a guy from Oregon running into his friend from New York in one of the largest airports in the world?

Do you ever have times in your life when you need a reminder from God that He loves you? I did and do! At a phase in my ministry where I was searching for direction God did not hand me a road map—He delivered a friend. He provided my former roommate—the loves-at-all-times, sticks-closer-than-a-brother type. What an awesome God!

Sometimes in life what’s most important is not knowing what comes next but rather Who holds the future. Friendship with God is the most important thing we can have in life. Friendship with people who love God is a great extension of the same truth. Who’s your friend? This might be a good time to let someone you know cares, hear from you how much you appreciate them. And while you’re on a roll, thank God for being your always-loving, ever-caring, completely-knowing Friend.

Inspiration

A friend whose contact and whose memory does not make us ever do our best is one in name only.—Oswald Chambers in Christian Disciplines