by Elaine Craddock

God's Grace and Friendship

I had saved this devotion about God & friendship, but did not record where I read it. I am sorry that I cannot give the author/source, but I pray that it is as uplifting for you as it is for me.

C. S. Lewis said about the beginning of friendships, "What? You too? I thought I was the only one!"

Friendships are important to me as I am sure they are to you as well. Through the years, I have been blessed with some very good friends and, after many years, those friendships are still going strong. Those relationships are precious to me.

Friendships between Christians are especially strong because of the bond we have in Christ. You see, we have something special in common. We can encourage and lift each other up in a way that the world cannot understand. We empathize with each other, comfort, share, laugh, and even cry.

The Bible talks a lot about our relationships with each other. Romans 15:5-6 "Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded toward one another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify god, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Galatians 6:2 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Proverbs 27:9 "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel."

Friends are one of the ways God takes care of us. We need all the things friendships need from other human contacts such as encouragement, companionship, love, honesty, loyalty, understanding, laughter, and so much more. In fact, friendships are like recipes of goodness for us. They bake up something special. Maybe you have heard the saying, "In the cookies of life, friends are the chocolate chips." Friends are the sweet extra in life and even sweeter is the friendship among believers in Christ because not only do we have a relationship with each other here on this earth, but our friendship will last for eternity!

There will be disappointments in life from those you thought were your friends. But you can always rest assured that we have a Friend that will never leave us, nor forsake us! A Friend who will comfort, encourage, love, and protect us! That Friend is Jesus!

Hold onto your good friends! Take good care of them and let them know what they mean to you – including our best Friend of all, Jesus!

Your friend,
Elaine