October 11, 2007
Proverbial Friendship: Goodness! Gracious!Posted by Bryan
Imagine having a king for a friend. The most powerful and influential person in the land. If you need a favor, you know you could call on the king. If you needed good counsel, you would have the king's resources at your reach. While the old saying brags, "it's good to be the king," it also must be pretty nice to be the friend of the king.
What an encouraging word that the Bible says that you can have the King of Kings as your friend. He is also the King of Creation, the King of the Ages, the King of Israel, the King of the Earth, the King of Heaven, the King of Glory, the King of Eternity and the King of Redemption. Jesus is King and He is your friend!
Jesus is your friend because he has imparted his goodness and his grace unto you. However, this proverb is not just available to encourage you in knowing that Jesus loves you and he counts you among his friends. This verse also advises that good, godly friends are available if you extend goodness and grace to others.
"Loving a pure heart" encourages you to make friends with godly people. If you surround yourself with people who seem to enjoy "life in the pigpen" or like to skate close to the fringes of moral appropriateness, you'll be known by the company you keep. At the same time, as you make friends with people whose hearts have been made pure by the forgiveness of God, you will be more inclined to walk in truth experience the blessings of obedience.
When "your speech is gracious" you help bridge the gap between the righteous and the unrighteous. Maintain your friendships with those who don't know Jesus as Lord by continuing a relationship with them that is marked by gracious speech that repeatedly points to Jesus and is seasoned with the gospel of his grace.
Your friend The King has commanded you to bring others to him. All you have to do is introduce them: the King Jesus will do the rest.
October 11, 2007 3:06 PM | TrackBack