Mission Venture Ministries

“Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice.” (Proverbs 27:9) 

Good friends are one of God’s greatest gifts since not one of us is meant to go through life alone and without help. God longs to use us as His instruments to those He has placed in our midst. He longs to make us a friend as He is a friend to us, in order to bless others and extend the reach of His kingdom. 

Friends share their experiences and talking about their most difficult and painful times with each other. We see this happening on the Road to Emmaus just after Christ’s death and resurrection. Still amazed by all that has transpires, we find two friends walking and talking about all that had happened in the last few days. It is then that Jesus meets them in the midst of their pain and puzzled minds. As they walked and talked about the Scriptures with Him, Jesus explained the prophecies He had fulfilled and reveals the truth of all that had just happened. When they finally sat down for a meal together, He revealed Himself. As soon as He broke the bread, they knew Him. At that moment, their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight (Luke 24:31). 

When we come alongside each other in the presence of the Lord, He does something remarkable He opens up our eyes. The gift of friendship is one of the sweetest gifts this side of heaven and God brings us the gift of friendship at just the right moment. 

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” God longs to transform each one of us into a friend who loves others unconditionally. Just like our Lord never leaves us or forsakes us, we should desire to be good friends as He taught us to be. Jesus longs to make us the kind of friends that will love through every season of life. He longs to empower us to love, serve, honor, and bless those He has given to us to cherish and to be by their side be it thru good or bad time; since God is calling us to love our friends “at all times.” He is calling us to a lifestyle of service and grace. 

Is there a friend in your life that needs your help right now? What friend is God calling us to love with the love He has shown us today? 

The biblical counsel from a trusted friend is very valuable and comforting because we know that their counsel is sweet to the soul, since a true friend will always speak the truth in love. 

Praying for each other has tremendous power (James 5:16) and is truly dynamic in its working. As we share our needs with each other, we can bring them to the Lord, and He will bring the healing, restoration and intervention needed. Another good thing about sharing our needs with each other is that others may have experienced the same thing and, therefore, can give the support and understanding that is needed. Tremendous power is available from our Lord as we pray with hearts in one accord. 

We need to remember that human beings were created to be relational, and friendships are an important part of our lives. We need friends – people we bond with in mutual affection. But not just any friend will do; having the right friends is key and discernment is required since “the righteous choose their friends carefully” (Proverbs 12:26). 

In Scripture, we see the qualities of a true friend as follows: 

• A true friend shows love, no matter what (Proverbs 17:17).
• A true friend gives heartfelt advice, bringing joy to the heart (Proverbs 27:9).
• A true friend rebukes when necessary, but the correction is done in love (Proverbs 27:5-6).
• A true friend influences, enlivens, and sharpens (Proverbs 27:17).
• A true friend avoids gossip (Proverbs 16:28).
• A true friend forgives and does not hold a grudge (Proverbs 17:9).
• A true friend is loyal (Proverbs 18:24).
• A true friend helps in time of need (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). 

1 Corinthians 13:7 says, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” That we may exhibit the heart of our heavenly Father to our friends by loving them as He has loved us; since the greatest Friend anyone could possibly have is Jesus Christ. He gladly calls us friends (John 15:15), and He proved His commitment and affection for us in a convincing way since: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). 

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the wonderful Christian friends that You have brought into my life, each one so precious to You and each one who has brought such joy and encouragement into my life. 

Father, I thank You for the gifts and talents that each has been endowed with and the way that each one has brought something new and unique into my life. I ask Your special blessing upon each one, and pray that together we may grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This, as we fellowship together around Your Word and encourage each other in the trials and difficulties that we are all facing at this time. 

Instill Your love and grace into the heart of each one and draw us ever closer to each other and to You Lord. Help us to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

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