He Calls Me Friend...

I don't know about you, but I don't have many people that I would consider "best friends."  Don't get me wrong, I am not someone who is all alone.  I have several (hundreds) of people that I would consider "friends."  I think this is probably a true statement for most people.

During you teen class Bible study on Sunday mornings, we are studying Proverbs.  This Sunday, September 18, we will be walking through and unpacking some key scriptures from Proverbs 18.  I know that most of you don't care about all this info., but I had to tell you all of that to get to this.  Proverbs 18:24 says, "A man of many companions may come to ruin..."
At first glance, this verse seems pretty depressing.  I am "a man of many companions."  Based on that fact, this verse tells me that I might "come to ruin."  What depressing news.  Despite the fact that I might have many people there to surround me and support me, I might get destroyed.   I might get wiped out.  This is not good news.  The verse doesn't stop there.  "...but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."  This is great news.

Friends may fail me and leave me.  Friends may turn their backs on me and put a knife in mine.  Friends may not be there when I need them or want them.  Friends may choose some other person to befriend or hang with.  Friends may say "forget you."  Not this friend.  He sticks closer than a brother.  He calms the storm with his words and gives a promise of making it safely to the other side.  He forgives me after knowing all my failures.  He accepts me for who I am, but loves me too much to leave me that way.  He died so that I could live.  There are not many people in my life who would do all those things for me.  I am so glad he calls me "friend."