| Show What Does The Bible Say By REV LEO E E. E RUBEL Although many people boast of having a host of friends most people have a rather hazy conception conception con con- of the m mea e a n I n g of friend or friendship Actually Actually Ac- Ac 1 if a real test of friendship friendship friend friend- ship should be applied to those we number among our friends the friendship circle would In Inmany inmany many Instances dwindle down to toa a very few THE BIBLE Indicates that Moses had a loyal and trusted confidant In Joshua who must have been a great comfort to Moses He could lend a sympathetic sympathetic ear as Moses unburdened his heart under the pressures of I his officer Joshua was a kindred I soul with whom Moses could share the privileged moments of communion with God We should value highly Gods God's girt gift or of good friends L Luther u the r numbered good friends among I Ithe the temporal blessings a gracious gra- gra I clous cious Lord bestows upon us THE BIBLE Indicates that God HI was the best Friend Moses ever had The Lord unto Moses face to face as a man unto his friends Exodus 33 11 11 God supplied Moses With the tools and the courage to work at a monumental task Above all God loved and forgave Moses loses the sinner The Bible Indicates that God also befriends us The Bible says Greater love hath bath no man manthan manthan than this that a man lay down his life for his friends John 15 13 13 God revealed His great love to us In giving His Son Jesus who In love for tor us en endured endured dured utter friendlessness on the cross that we might enoy Gods God's peace and friend friendship s hip eternally I THE BIBLE says In this was wasI I manifested the love of God toward toward to- to ward us because that God sent His IUs only begotten Son Into the world that we might live through him 1 John 4 9 True friendship can be manifested manifested mani- mani only by those who by the grace of God know love and believe In that greatest of all Friends Jesus Christ and who pattern their friendship for others others oth- oth ers after the friendship He has shown us In lifting the burden of sins which distress us and easIng easing Ing the burden of crosses which darken our paths TR TRUE UE FRIENDS are loyal and trusted confidants who comfort one another listen to each others other's others other's oth- oth ers er's recitations of trials and kneel with each other before the throne of God and share those privileged moments of communIon communion com com- munIon with God the true Friend ot of friends I |
