This is My Friend

The dearest friend we have here in this world may turn against us and become our enemy. Often our own children, whom we have reared with tenderness and care, prove ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, often become traitors to our faith. The little money we have, we may lose; it flies from us, perhaps when we need it most. Our reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill-considered action. Those who are prone to fall on their knees to do us honor when success is with us may be the first to cast the stone when misfortune settles its cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely unselfish Friend that we have in this world, the one who never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is the Friend who has promised never to leave us nor forsake us, but to stick closer than a brother. Have you met him? I am talking about God's only begotten Son, Jesus, our Redeemer.

Yes, this Friend of whom I speak will stand by us in prosperity and in poverty, in health and in sickness. When all other friends forsake us, he remains. When riches take wings and reputation is ruined, he is as constant in his love as is the sun in its journey through the heavens.

If one is driven forth, an outcast in the world, friendless and homeless, this faithful Friend asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying one, to guard against danger, to fight against one's enemies. And when the last scene of all comes, and death takes us in its embrace, and our body begins to turn cold, no matter if all other friends pursue their own way, there by our side will this Friend and Savior of ours be found, his ear opened to our prayers, his heart, to our pleadings, faithful and true even to death.

Praise the Lord! We have "a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." He has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." So, we may boldly say, "The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me." When we think of our friendship with Jesus, this sacred song runs through our mind:

Many precious children of God are suffering physical or spiritual weakness, but seem unable to make connection with God for their healing. Yet, James was speaking to all in the church when he wrote (5:14-15), "Is ANY sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

The Lord freely offers to His children faith for healing and deliverance; yet, because of spiritual weaknesses, some have not learned altogether to trust him. Still, our Friend patiently walks beside us, guiding our faltering steps, encouraging us to rely on him to be our strength. We know that God was the strength of Israel, and as Samuel told Saul, "The strength of Israel will not lie"; therefore, we must believe Him when He says, "I am the Lord that healeth thee" (Ex.15:26). We may receive faith for our healing by becoming conscious that God is our strength. To have the spiritual strength to believe God for healing is a great blessing indeed.

In order to possess this needed strength, one must first possess the Author of strength - he must know Strength Himself. King David declared, "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength" (Ps.18:1). Likewise, Jeremiah cried out, "O Lord, my strength" (Jer.16:19). In Exodus 15:2, Moses and the children of Israel sang, "The Lord is my strength". Amen! After failing God and sinning with Uriah's wife, David cried aloud to God, "My strength faileth because of mine iniquity" (Ps.31:10). What a picture of many today! Think of the thousands of whom it can truthfully be said, "Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev. 3:1). May that phrase never apply to you, my dear Reader. May you never hear the Lord speak of you as He once lamented concerning His efforts for Israel, "I have labored in vain. I have spent my strength for nought" (Isa.49:4).

No doubt, in the hearts of many believers today lies this statement and question of the Psalmist (43:2), "Thou art the God of my strength. Why dost thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" Sometimes we fail to understand that trials are heaven-sent opportunities to build strength, and it is God's will to give us strength to believe Him for our healing. He wills weakness upon none. He is our Friend. Isaiah tells us why we are oppressed of the enemy: "Because thou hast...not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength" (Isa.17:10).

It is easy to get our minds off God and lose confidence in God's doing for us what He has faithfully promised to do. My dear Friend, it is God's will to give strength to all believers for both body and soul, and He will do this for all His faithful children, those who keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. As we look to God from day to day for His saving strength, let us ever be conscious that it is His strength we receive, and not ours, for without Him we are less than weak; we are helpless.

The wise man (Prov.10:29) tells us that ,"The way of the Lord is strength to the upright." You recall the time, my fellow believer, when you first found the Way - the day Christ came into your life and set you free from sin. How well you remember that experience! You felt well and strong in body and soul at that time. Yes, you had strength then. That same strength can be yours again, even now. Don't let doubts hold you down! Loose your faith and be healed. How precious to live in the strength of the Lord! This will keep you well and happy.

Remember, God has said, "My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2Cor.12:9). Beloved, kneel right where you are and ask God to renew your strength, so that you may travel again in the greatness of His power. This is what you want. This is the step one must take when one finds his strength gone, and he is spiritually crippled. Oh, to learn the precious lesson of renewing our strength in the Lord! Arise from your knees now and say with our friend, David, "The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?" And again David prayed, "The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart trusted in him, and I am helped. Therefore, my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise him" (Ps.28:7).

Now, we pray for the other weak members among us, those especially who are sick and weak in faith, for, as the Psalmist (28:8) has said, "The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed." Once more, let us pray with David as he labored in prayer with a burden for others after being renewed himself in the strength of the Lord, "Save thy people, and bless thine inheritance. Feed them also, and lift them up forever" (Ps.28:9). Amen! May God bless you and keep you healthy and happy.

Questions? Log onto the Internet, Click Here,
and you can E-mail them to: GSAVELLI@aol.com