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November 15 Friends

An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends; and defies all sound judgment. ~Proverbs 18:1


What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to live in us envies intensely? But He gives us more grace. That is why scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ~James 4:1-6

I am a friend to all who fear You, to all who follow Your precepts. ~Psalm 119:63 

Prayer: Lord, in earthly things, I may differ with others in my congregation, others in the body of Christ. What we hold in common, however, is our love and devotion to you. While in the seen world we may see things differently, when we lift our eyes above the seen world to where You are, we are in agreement. 

You are our creator. We are your children. You are the only way, truth and source of life for us to find our way to eternity. This path was paved in Your blood which was shed on the cross to pay for all of our sins so that You could offer forgiveness to us all, if we will accept it.

While below, we may see things differently, help me to be a friend to all those who fear You. Help me to set aside differences, the things that cause quarrels, the things that, in my flesh move me to be unfriendly and aloof. Help me to pray for all of my brothers and sisters in Christ; those I agree with and those I don’t. Help us to work on understanding each other and help us to work together to bring the lost into Your Kingdom for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Song: For the Beauty of the Earth 



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