The Friend?

The Friend?

“I don’t like selfish girls!”

Joy was crushed. “Why was this text sent to all my friends...about me?”

But Teresa was mad—didn’t get her way, so—she got even!

 

This was back stabbing—unfair—a jealous lie. The last thing Teresa wanted were

good things for Joy.

Teresa sang one song, “What about me, what about me, what

about me!”

It was her song in the morning, at noon and at day’s end. Selfish people lack humility. They’re all about themselves. They make bad friends. Beware— stay far………………………………  away!

Joy was mad but what could she do? She had to trust God with her reputation. And the people who knew Joy, who knew Teresa—got

it! True friends—remain friends. Why?

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need”.

Proverbs 17:17

A different sort of friend

Paul persecuted the early Christians. With his permission Christian were stoned to death. “I’ve got to stop Christianity. Put these fanatics in their place. I’m doing God a favor.”

But one day he was blinded by the sight of the glorified Christ and from that day till the day of his beheading he was a friend of God. Paul had changed, overnight! But who would believe?

God had a plan.

Barnabas believed. “Hey Peter, John, James, meet my friend Paul. He’s on fire for Jesus. I’ve been following him…so should you.”

And that was the ticket. No longer looked upon as a traitor—no longer regarded as a murderer—Paul—was one of them.

v  What’s a true friend?

·         Humble

·         Cheers—for you

·         Defends you—no matter what

·         Keeps secrets

Barnabas believed in Paul—promoted him. That’s true friendship.

Barnabas was called “The Son of Encouragement.”  Humble, but oh so loved, the life of Barnabas was all about Jesus…all about others.  He was a friend that stuck with you through the bad—through the good!

Dear Lord, Give me a friend like Barnabas. And Lord, make

me a good friend for others.  Thank you!

The Pure Heart

The Pure Heart

“Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends”

Luke 15:29

John wiped his brow as he removed the yoke from his oxen team. They had plowed long and hard today.

“Someday I’ll own all of my father’s estate. That’ll be something to celebrate. My idiot brother will have no part…I’m glad. He was Father’s spoiled little boy. He got everything he wanted and in the end he took what he wanted and was gone. Good riddance! I don’t care if I ever see him again.  But Father just keeps looking down the well-worn path.

 Let him go, I tell him. Let him rot in hell. He deserves it. After all…squandering your inheritance on harlots?”

John patted the heads of his oxen and made his way home.  Was that music he heard? What in the world?

“Hey John, your brother is home. We just killed the fatted calf. It’s Time to party.”

“This isn’t fair! Dad, are you crazy? This is the boy who lived like a heathen. What about me? I did everything right. I was no slouch, no bum. When is it my turn?”

“Where is your mercy Son? Your brother has humbled himself. Turn him away after such a broken heart? I can’t do that. God won’t let me.”

And so we see two boys. One did everything right but his father never had his heart. That was all he truly wanted. The heart he saw was a proud one.

 The other, full of sin, begged for mercy and a tender father saw a heart that was broken a heart that was pure. It was all  Father ever wanted.   Not perfection—not a flawless

slate—but a perfect heart…a pure heart.