Wednesday Bible Blurb “Friends, I will Remember you” 7 16 2025
I have this old book about outhouses that starts with “I was a sittin and a thinkin.” So, yesterday when I was out front in my yard watching the sun go down, I started to do some” sittin and a thinkin” on my lawn chair. My mind wandered back over seven decades of life to the friends I have encountered and enjoyed. Memories started to flood back, and a sly smile grew on my face as I thought back to those I had known over the years. Folks I have played with as a small child and cried with as an adult over the pain of life. Friends bring us joy and sometimes pain, but in the end, our friends are a blessing.
Do we realize Abraham was a “friend” of God? James tells us, “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God.” (James 2:23 NKJV). Friends are a wonderful gift from God and being a friend of God is the greatest of all friendships
David and Jonathan were the closest of friends even though Saul, Jonathan’s father and the King of Israel was trying to kill David. It was a difficult relationship for David and Jonathan as the King had put a hit (Order to kill) out on David. Through all the adversity they remained close friends until the death of Jonathan in battle. (See I Samuel 18-19). Solomon tells us, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” When David needed help, his friend, Jonathan, the son of the king who was trying to kill David was there to help him in his adversity. Do we have friends this close who will help us in our tough times of life?
As I was “a sittin and a thinkin” in the front yard I was reminded of how to be friends with others. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Pro. 18:24). If we are leading a life of loneliness take this verse to heart. Be friendly and the loneliness will go away over time.
Jesus had a great friend in John. When He was in the middle of the greatest crisis of His life, as He hung on the cross in great painful agony, He looked down from the cross at the disciple whom He loved and “said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold our son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her into his own home.” (John 19:25-30). What a friend to have in Jesus. Jesus was close enough to John to entrust His family into his care in His greatest time of adversity. Do we have friends like this?
The value of friendship is immeasurable. Standing together like David and Jonathan, Joshua and Caleb, Jesus and John will overcome adversity. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” (Ecc. 4:9-12). Do we have friends like this?
As I was “a sittin and a thinkin” an old John Denver song came to mind, “Friends, I will remember you, think of you, pray for you. And when another day is through, I’ll still be friends with you.” Remember your friends. Love, your friends. Enjoy your friends. Help your friends but most of all, as you are “a sittin and a thinkin” remember, God is your friend and nothing could be greater than that.
