Last week I celebrated my 19th birthday. As a "birthday tradition," I began the day before spending more time than usual thanking God for the many blessings He has given to me, and then read a few Psalms that were prayers of dedication to the Lord. I found it uplifting to think on all the things that God has blessed us with!
Some of the blessings that came quickly to mind that morning were my friends. That very afternoon, they surprised me by taking me out to a Chinese lunch buffet. As we were together, I was struck again by how grateful I am, and how blessed I am, to have the friends that I do - friends that so often are examples in humility, in laughter, in unselfishness, in wisdom, in godliness.
My professor (and friend) Dr. Haykin wrote an excellent article on friendship, in which he quotes a James Newton as giving the foundations to a true friendship: "If we have God for our Friend, what need we to fear, Nothing, but without his Friendship we may be looked on as the most miserable of men." Upon this cornerstone of true friendship, an early church theologian, Gregory of Nazianzus, could say, "If anyone were to ask me, 'What is the best thing in life?', I would answer, 'Friends.'"
Praise God for His friendship to us, by choosing us and saving us through Jesus Christ, and sending His Holy Spirit to be our constant Helper, Seal, Guide, and Friend as we shine with the glory of Christ on earth. God is our Friend!
And thank you, God, for granting me such wonderful friends! They are gifts from You, representations of Your bountiful kindness.
And to those of you who are reading who are my friends (not too many reading, but everyone I know of who reads this blog is my friend!), thank you for the gift of your friendship. I do treasure it, and I hope that I can strive towards being as good a friend to each of you as you have been to me.
God is kind!
Andre
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