Corona Devo 3140

Who would we say are the most important people in our life? 

Family, friends, pets, neighbors.  (Place them in your own preferred order of importance.) 

Friends may change over the course of our lives, but they are a common (valuable) thread in each of our lives.  How do we treat our true friends?  How should we?

Who are the wrong friends to have?

Did we know that the Bible answers these things for us, and gives us friend-guidelines? 

~~~ 

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. (28) Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—when you already have it with you.  ~Proverbs 3:27-28 

The Bible advises us to do the right thing first, and now.  If we can help someone out: do it, God says in His Word.  We should not be lazy in action or in generosity of our spirit toward others.  
Don't hold out on kindness to others today.
A good friend does not withhold good from those to whom it is due.

~~~

The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.  ~Proverbs 12:26      

We are sons and daughters of God, and (like it or not), we are held to a higher standard: a holy standard, because our Heavenly Father is holy.  We should (must) choose our friends wisely.  Guilty-by-association can be detrimental on every level if we are caught with the wrong people at the wrong time.  

It can be easy or almost unnoticeable to get caught up with the wrong crowd, but the way of the wicked leads us astray eventually, and we forfeit God's best plans for us when we go astray from His call to holiness...and this includes our choice in comrades. 

The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.  ~Proverbs 12:26      

~~~

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, (25) or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.  ~Proverbs 22:24-25  

Do any of our friends/family-members have tempers?  Be careful that we do not learn their ways, as it is easy to pick up bad habits from others that we are near to.  We can become desensitized to negative behaviors (including anger) if we are surrounded by them long enough, or if we are raised in them.
But a hot-tempered person is not a safe person...not a safe friend.  
If someone's hot-temper frightens us, then it is time to re-evaluate the relationship.

Can we think of an example of someone's temper flaring?  (Did their anger or unpredictability scare us?)

Do any of us have hot-tempers?

Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person, do not associate with one easily angered, (25) or you may learn their ways and get yourself ensnared.  ~Proverbs 22:24-25 

~~~

Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.  ~Proverbs 25:20

A bubbly personality is wonderful...except when it's not.  Being a good friend means knowing when to be bubbly and when not to be.  

Ever shaken-up a can of soda pop and then opened it?  There can be a similar type of bubbly-explosion reaction if we bring light-heartedness into a situation or person who requires solemnity or sobriety.  We are not being a good friend if we do not assess the emotional-state of those that we care about and tend to them appropriately.  
A true friend lightens a load, and is there when we need them...and is there how we need them.
Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.  ~Proverbs 25:20

~~~

Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death (19) is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”  ~Proverbs 26:18-19

Wow--God gets right to (His) point about practical jokers, doesn't He?  Practical jokes are often not funny.  They can hurt and pierce like arrows. 
Do we know any practical jokers that go overboard?  Are we one?
Like a maniac shooting flaming arrows of death (19) is one who deceives their neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”  ~Proverbs 26:18-19

~~~

Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.  ~Proverbs 27:6
True friends will be honest with us about everything, from their concerns, to clothes, to relationships.  But be careful: enemies and swindlers will often tell us just what we want to hear.  Beware of flattery, advice and all words from an adversary.  Consider the source--always.    
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.  ~Proverbs 27:6

~~~
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.  ~Proverbs  27:17

Proverbs 27:17 is God-math.
If we hang out with other Christ followers, we will become a stronger Christ follower. 
Jesus in others + Jesus in us = Even better Jesus people!
That is God math.  And it doesn't just work with faith.  Hang around intelligent people...and don't expect to get less intelligent.  
Successful people, positive people, kind people, generous people...  Kingdom-minded people: 
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.  ~Proverbs  27:17

~~~

Look at the positive friendships that we have forged in our lives.  We try to do the right thing for each other.  In vulnerability, we open up, and in intimacy we share sensitive information...and friendships are birthed and deepened.  
We pray for each other.
We support each other.  
We are honest with each other.
And once in a while, friendships falter (we are human--forgive!), but overall, we are iron--sharpening iron, to each other.

I pray that we enjoy some of these true friendship qualities within relationships in our lives.  And as a challenge today, may we have fresh eyes...Christ’s eyes, to be a friend to others this day and in the coming days. 

Did someone mention the Lord or praise Him in word?  Let them know we were blessed by it.  
Maybe we like someone's smile or laugh, or we witness them helping another, or demonstrating one of their gifts: Tell them!  Be a good friend and build them up.
 
The world often cuts us down, but rarely (rarely!) do we hear what we do right.  
As friends in Christ, let's get good at pointing out the good in others.  Let's be intentional about sharpening the iron around us and in our lives. 

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