Daily Devotional: Thursday, Oct 29

Speaker:Ben Sigman

Theme: Friendship Reality

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Happy Day by Tim Hughes; Cannonsby Phil Wickham; Blessed Be Your Nameby Matt Redman; Came to my Rescueby Hillsong United.

Read: Proverbs 17:17; John 15:14-15

Proverbs Challenge Chapter of the Day: Proverbs 23

Think: How would you define a true friend? The answer to that question can easily vary from person to person, after all each of us value different character qualities or personality traits... But whatever our definition is, it determines much of our interactions with the people around us.

The dictionary definition of a friend is "one attached to another by affection, regard, or esteem; an intimate acquaintance." Not exactly a warm and touching depiction for us is it? So I did a little survey and here are a couple descriptions I found for a true friend:

• A true friend is someone we can be ourselves without the fear of being rejected.
• A true friend is someone we can tell anything to and who we can trust will never betray the confidence.
• A true friend is one who knows all about us and loves us anyway.
• A true friend doesn't talk behind our back.
• A true friend is there for us when we need them... even it its 2 o'clock in the morning.

Jesus defined friendship this way: "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. . . . I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you" (John15:14-15).

What kind of friend are you to the people God has put in your life? And even more importantly, according to Jesus' definition, what kind of friend are you to Him?

Do: As you think through your answer to the two questions decide what changes you need to institute today to be a better friend - both to the people in your life and to the Lord.

Pray: God I want to be a great friend. Show me the places I fall short and help me to operate as a true friend to the people you've put in my life. Help me to be true to my friendship with You by doing what You ask of me and obeying You in all things. Amen.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

Timberlake Church | 4505 236th Ave. NE • Redmond, Washington 98053 • 425-869-4400 • info@tlcf.org