BE A LOVING FRIEND

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

Relationships can be categorized into many different groups, including the “head nodding when I pass you on the street” group, the “how’s it going” group, and the “chat about nothing on a regular basis” group. These groups are popular, superficial, and safe.

To move on to a friendship level where we communicate, spend quality time together, and care about the general well being of the other person is difficult because sacrifice is required. Scripture sums up this kind of friendship: “A friend loveth at all times.” A mature friendship is unconditional, including times when the individual is behaving rudely or making wrong choices.

The temptation to remain aloof in our fast-paced world is real. There’s less chance of getting hurt when we avoid developing mature friendships. However, the community of faith is strengthened when composed of friends who will love “at all times.”

Lord, help me not to be afraid to develop friendships that are based on unconditional love.

APPLY THE GOLDEN RULE

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12

Treat others the way you would want to be treated. It’s simple, right?

Applying basic biblical principles in the world in which we live is never as easy as it seems. Life teaches us at an early age to look out for ourselves. If people hurt us, hurt them back. If people gossip about us, do the same to them. Even though this is our natural inclination, it is not what God intends. Jesus said, “Resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also” (Matthew 5:39).

By following the principle of treating others the way we want to be treated, we bring into our relationships, whether family, friend, or foe, a healthy sense of respect for individuals that can help achieve positive impacts.

Do you treat people the way you want to be treated? When you are mistreated, how do you respond?

Lord, help me to apply the golden rule.

SHOW MERCY

Luke 6:36

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36

When I was a little girl in the third grade, I did a horrible thing. I followed another girl home from school picking on and pestering her the entire way. For days I made her life miserable. Then one afternoon as I was being particularly ornery, I fell on the street and gave myself a nasty cut on my knee. My school books went flying, and there I sat in the middle of the road crying in pain. That little girl I had been so mean to walked back to where I was, picked up all my books, and helped me home.

Something transformational happened to me that day. In fact, I accepted Christ shortly after this incident, all because that sweet little girl gave me a blessing when I didn’t deserve it. That’s what mercy is: undeserved favor. Thank God He shows mercy to all who believe by not giving us what we truly deserve – eternity separated from Him.

Reflect on ways God has been merciful to you. How might you show mercy to someone today?

Father, thank You for Your bountiful mercy.

AVOID JUDGING OTHERS

Matthew 7:1-5

Judge not, that ye be not judged. Matthew 7:1

One of the fastest ways to destroy a relationship is to be judgmental. Some kinds of judgment are necessary. However, Jesus warned against unloving, condemning criticism of another person. Too often, we jump to conclusions about others because we can only see what is occurring at the surface. We form our opinions on what we think others are doing, on what we think others should or should not do, on why others are doing what they’re doing, and even on the timing in which they choose to do it. Could anything be more stifling in a relationship?

When we place ourselves in the judge’s seat, it’s as if we are in fact taking the gavel from God and saying: “I know best what this is about. Leave it to me to decide how to handle it.” Scripture says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Otherwise, we will be judged by the standard in which we judge others. Do we really want that to happen?

Let us work on making ourselves more like Christ instead of trying to make others more like us.

Lord, help me to avoid judging other people.

BE KIND

Ephesians 4:31-32

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

All structures start with a foundation that everything else is built upon. Ephesians 4:32 provides three commands. The first command is to be kind to one another, the second is to be tenderhearted, and the third is to be forgiving. These commands are like a structure, each item building upon the other with the foundation being forgiveness.

It’s quite difficult to be kind if your heart is not tender. It’s even harder to have a tender heart if you are an unforgiving person. Unforgiveness leads to a calloused heart, and from a calloused heart kindness will not flow.

Here is a reality check: If you are having a difficult time being kind to a particular person and you find your heart is hardened toward them, ask yourself if the underlying cause is failure to forgive. Remember, we forgive others because God forgives us.

Lord, help me to follow Your example in being kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving.

BE HONEST

Proverbs 11:1

A false balance is abomination to the Lord; but a just weight is his delight. Proverbs 11:1

Being a follower of Christ in today’s world, whether it’s in the work force, at church, or at home, brings with it many responsibilities. Daily we are faced with decisions and temptations on whether or not we will take unfair advantage over those with whom we come in contact. A business owner may be tempted to overcharge for his services, a church leader may be tempted to manipulate the flock in order to run things his way, and an out-of-town spouse may be tempted to be unfaithful.

Scripture says that unrighteous dealings are sickening to the Lord, but an honest person is His delight. We are to build good relationships through honesty and integrity. The next time you find yourself in a position that requires moral or ethical discernment, ask yourself, “Am I being my Lord’s delight?” If not, ask God to give you strength to be honest in your dealings with others.

Lord, thank You for giving me the desire to be honest in my dealings with others. Continue to help me in this critical area of my life.

VIRTUES OF A GOOD MAN

Psalm 1:1-6

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2

Virture isn’t exactly a word you hear thrown around the men’s locker room. We prefer to talk more about strength and power. Though virture may not be something we frequently talk about as men, it is something every man should desire. Every man has a deep longing to be honored and respected, and the godly way to receive honor and respect is to be a man of virture.

The psalmist is clear in Psalm 1 and again in Psalm 119 that the way to be a man of virtue is by taking to heart the Word of God. The more men delight in learning from and meditating upon the Scriptures and making them a regular part of their lives, the more the Scriptures can mold them into men of virtue possessing qualities such as honesty, integrity, courage, and lovingkindness. Then men will receive the honor and respect for which they are looking.

Lord, give me a deep abiding love for You and Your Word so that I may be a person of virture who is worthy of honor.

A CLEAN HEART

Psalm 51

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

I love putting on a fresh, clean shirt each morning. I don’t know what my wife does to those shirts when she washes them, but boy do they smell and feel good! There’s just something about the smell of a clean shirt that makes me feel as though I have a fresh start to a new day no matter what has happened the day before.

A clean heart can have much the same effect in our lives. When we ask for forgiveness and present our dirty hearts to God, He washes them; and boy does it feel good when He gets done! No matter how ground in the stains may be, God can and will remove them if we simply ask Him. Scripture tells us His mercies are new every morning. (See Lamentations 3:22-23) So just as we can put on fresh smelling shirts each morning, we can be sure that if we ask Him, God will see to it that we have a clean heart every morning as well.

Father, “create in me a clean heart. . . and renew a right spirit within me.”

BE COMPASSIONATE

1 Peter 3:8-9

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. 1 Peter 3:8

There is a connection shared by some twins that some have described as a sixth sense. There have been reports of one twin experiencing serious injury and the other, who may be nowhere around, actually feeling pain. This ia good illustration of, “having compassion one of another.” When we have compassion for another, we have a deep sense of their suffering. This is coupled with a desire to help relieve that suffering.

That Peter would encourage his readers to have a compassion is interesting because they had enough suffering of their own. They were persecuted Christians scattered across the countryside. But in an effort to encourage them, Peter admonished them to be consciously aware of and seek to relieve the suffering of their brothers and sisters in Christ.

Often, our own suffering is lessened as we focus on encouraging others who suffer.

Lord, give me a compassionate heart that is aware of and seeks to relieve other’s sufferings.

VIRTUES OF A GOOD WOMAN

Proverbs 31:10-31

Proverbs 31 has inspired many women and at the same time discouraged and deflated quite a few. In this description of the ideal woman, it’s interesting to notice what isn’t spoken of as much as what is. The writer makes no mention of the improtance of outward appearance, with the exception that beauty is vain. Character is the source of her attractiveness. She is beautiful and praised because of her fear of God that leads her to desire to honor Him in every area of her life. Whether it’s work, family, or finances, any role or situation in which she finds herself, she seeks to be a woman who honors God.

I’m sure there are women who have sought to emulate every detail of this ideal description, but that seems to miss the point. A wise woman, regardless of her ability to emulate the qualities mentioned in the devotional passage, can be a virtuous woman deserving of praise by undergirding all she does with a geniune fear of God.

Lord, I realize that good character development is grounded in my reverence for You.