Will you be a friend indeed? Are you a dad dealing with something that feels overwhelming? Is it related to a friend in need? Are you the one in need? Did something happen that is causing trouble or strife? What are you going to do? How will you choose to respond? Will you be a true friend who supports them and their family? Can you show tough love when necessary to hold them accountable? Will you, through love, try to help a friend in need, even when they resist help and engage in bad behavior, in hopes they will see the light, turn back to God, begin the healing process, and move forward in alignment with God’s will?
The Call to Support
Being a friend in times of need demonstrates Christ’s love for us. Proverbs 17:17 reminds us, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” As fathers, we must support our friends and family steadfastly, embodying the unwavering love that God shows us. When we offer a listening ear or a helping hand, we become conduits of God’s grace, allowing His love to flow through our actions. The practical application of this truth involves making time for those in need, offering our resources, and praying fervently for their well-being. By doing so, we fulfill the command to “carry each other’s burdens” as instructed in Galatians 6:2.
The Role of Accountability
True friendship also involves holding one another accountable. Proverbs 27:17 states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This verse highlights the importance of constructive criticism and mutual growth. As fathers and friends, we should not avoid addressing harmful behaviors in those we care about. Do this with gentleness and respect, ensuring your motivations are rooted in love and the desire for spiritual growth. Practical application includes setting aside time for honest conversations, being willing to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and providing support to help friends overcome their struggles.
The Power of Tough Love
Sometimes, being a true friend means showing tough love. Hebrews 12:11 says, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” This verse acknowledges the difficulty of enforcing boundaries and discipline while affirming its long-term benefits. As fathers, demonstrating tough love might involve making difficult decisions that are in the best interest of our friends and their families, even if they do not immediately appreciate it. Practical applications include setting clear expectations, following through with consequences, and continually praying for guidance and wisdom to act in alignment with God’s will.
The Importance of Being a Friend in Deed
In summary, being a true friend involves providing unwavering support, holding each other accountable, and showing tough love when necessary. Indeed, what if we could be the dads who can support and hold our dad friends accountable? Let’s be the dads who whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him! These actions demonstrate God’s love and wisdom, guiding us to be the friends our loved ones need for their benefit and to glorify God.
Proverbs 27:9 encapsulates this truth: “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.” By living out these biblical principles, we can help our friends return to God, begin the healing process, and move forward in alignment with His will, fulfilling our roles as loving fathers and faithful friends.
Today’s Devotional:
This year, I am utilizing the 365 Daily Devotions book I received for Christmas, applying its teachings specifically in the context of fatherhood. It’s called WALKING WITH GOD by DAVID JEREMIAH. It’s exciting to learn from a new resource this year as we have tried different options the past two years and will keep working through this for 2024. For more information about the author and his ministry, visit DavidJeremiah.org.
Topic: A FRIEND INDEED
Verse: Proverbs 18:24
'One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.'
Today’s Devotional starts with an interesting quote with no consensus but everyone knows what it means. Have you heard the quote “With friends like these, who needs enemies?” Indeed, have you ever felt what it is like when people you thought were friends treated you worse than your enemies? “Anyone who experienced such a reversal of ‘friendship’ knows the pain and perplexity it can cause.”
The type of friendship that is indeed needed
Today’s Devotional reminds us of the story of Job and what he went through when his friends started to pick on him. When Job “was at the worst point of his life, his friends came to accuse and lecture him about his dishonesty before God and his failure to repent and of whatever sins caused God to heap suffering upon him.” It’s quite a contrast from the types of friends described in today’s verse from Proverbs 18:24.
Yes, we’ve all heard of sibling rivalry, and I am sure any of us with siblings have experienced it in one way or another but most of the time they are around to help. Today’s Devotional speaks to how “there is a friend who does what even a sibling cannot do, a friend who loves at all times. That’s the kind of friend Job needed.”
Jesus is a friend indeed
Today’s Devotional reminds us that “Jesus declared Himself to be the friend of those who follow Him (John 15:14).” It then raises the bar to challenge us that “if you need a friend today, He is there for you.” What are you going through today? Can you stop or take a pause and invite Jesus into your situation(s) or circumstance(s)? Do you know someone who is struggling or dealing with something big? Would you consider offering up to them that you will be the one, “be one who sticks closer than a brother”?
“A rule I have had for years is, to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. He is not a creed, a mere empty doctrine, but it is He Himself we have.”
D. L. MOODY
Very well written. Thanks for being my friend, Phil!