The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Exodus 33:11
How many friends have I had through the years? Really loyal friends are few. Keeping friends is difficult. How blessed is the one who has true friends!
A loyal and trusted confidant, Joshua must have been a great comfort to Moses. He could lend a sympathetic ear as Moses unburdened his heart under the pressures of his office. Joshua was a kindred soul with whom Moses could share the privileged moments of communion with God.
We should value highly God's gift of good friends. Luther numbered "good friends" among the temporal blessings a gracious Lord bestows on us. Good friends reduce our sorrows and multiply our joys by sharing both with us.
God Himself was the best friend Moses ever had. God spoke with him face to face. He chose Moses to represent Him before Israel. He supplied Moses with fitness and the courage to work at a monumental task. Above all, God loved and forgave Moses, the sinner.
God also befriends us. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends' (John 15:13). God revealed His great love to us in giving His Son, Jesus, who in love for us endured utter friendlessness on the cross so we might enjoy God's peace and friendship eternally.
PRAYER: Jesus, friend of sinners, bind us together in friendship with You and with one another. Amen.
(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: Job 8-10 Matthew 9:1-17
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