"Show me unfailing kindness like that of the LORD as long as I live." 1 Samuel 20:14
We would want it said of us that we are reliable. We want friends and family to be able to depend on us to react predictably when some specific situation arises or when "the pressure's on." People want to be able to count on us. They want to know that we will be as good as our word and unchanging in our support and friendship.
To be reliable is a basic ingredient of any friendship. C.S. Lewis observed that few of us have many friends. We have acquaintances. In a mobile and fast-paced society, building lasting friendships is difficult. Self-interest takes precedent over concern for others. We curve in on ourselves.
King David in Psalm 12 decries the lack of faithfulness among people and talks about deceit and deception. But David also knew the reliability of lasting friendship. He had found that in his relationship with Jonathan.
Jonathan, in turn, likened the love he wanted from David to the kind of reliable love he had experienced from the hands of God. That kind of reliable love and friendship is not only like the love of God but also stems from that love. God's love authors our kindness and love for others.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I can count on You, my best friend, for forgiveness and strength. Help me to be a friend others can count on as I count on You. 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: Proverbs 30-31 Acts 5:22-42
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