Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. (Pro 27:9)
If you’ve never had a friend that has loved you unconditionally, you have missed out on a precious thing in life. Unconditional love is described as someone loving you no matter what you’ve done to them.
The perfect example of unconditional love is the love shown to us by Jesus Christ. Our sin is the reason He had to die on that cross… in fact, my sin is the reason He had to die on that cross! Yet, He loved me so much that He chose to leave His Heavenly home, come to this earth, and suffer a cruel death … just so I can go to Heaven! That’s as unconditional as love gets, my friend!
As I reflect on this friend in Proverbs 27:9, I see a friend who provides hearty counsel. This friend loves so much that he sticks with a friend through everything. How can I tell? This friend is providing hearty (strong, sincere, warm) counsel. When was the last time you had a friend who loved you enough to give you strong advice? When was the last time you had a friend who loved you enough to show you in the Word where you were going wrong? Anyone can give you worldly advice and counsel. Anyone can give you their opinion. But a true friend will counsel you when it’s not easy – when you’ve sinned. A true friend will point things out that will cause you to think. A true friend will show you that the path you’re on is going to lead you to heartache, and possibly chastisement from the Lord.
Do you have such a friend? I do. In fact, my friend is the one who led me to the Lord over 26 years ago. She brings me to tears with laughter – but she also brings me to tears with conviction through the Word. Yes, my heart has to be tender and willing to be taught in order to receive the hard counsel she has to give me. However, how many people do you know in your own life who love you despite of what you are doing? How many people do you know in your own life who see the sin in you yet their main desire is to help you get right with God? That, dear Christian, is a true friend.
I thank God, daily, for my spiritual mother. Not only has she been faithful in her friendship, but she has shared the Word of God with me when it was not easy to receive. She did not compromise the Word just to keep our friendship. She has stood firm and prayed for me so that I would stand firm also. What a friend!
Are you such a friend? Do you offend others by what you say (your opinions) or are the words you give to your friend from God’s Word? My friend’s words were. I could never go back to her and say that what she told me was her opinion. In fact, quite the opposite – she quoted Scriptures and it is very hard to refute God. How could I be offended when it was His Word that was spoken to me?
We should strive to be this type of friend to those the Lord has placed in our path. If they are truly walking with the Lord, they will look at your counsel as sweet. As well, if the Lord has put someone in your life who has given you wise counsel, be sure to keep your heart soft and teachable so the Lord can bless you through that counsel. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. (Psa 49:3)
Dear God…
Thank you for sending me
A friend whose love is strong
Leading me always to Your Word
And keeping me from wrong
Hi Kate, Thanks for stopping by my blog today and for the sweet words. I have really enjoyed reading some of the verses and your thoughts about them here today. Thanks. I look forward to reading more.
Hi, Kate. I hope you are having a wonderful day in the Lord. First of all, let me tell you, I turned about 4 shades of red when I read your comment. I was so utterly embarassed that it was your first visit to my blog, and the latest post written was about my “snake” producing son. The only consolation I had was that you had two boys, and you must know that these sort of things just happen on a daily basis. ;0)
After making me turn 4 shades of red, you brought me to tears. Thank you so much. For some reason, the way you worded your comment made me feel all warm and fuzzy. I can feel your sincerity. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
YAY for marrying your high school sweetheart. That is one thing I would not trade for anything. The other day my beloved and I were discussing the fact that we have known each other longer than we haven’t known each other. ;0) Sometimes it feels like we are playing house with real bills. ;0) At times we still feel like we are 16.
Well, I am happy you left I comment, if not I wouldn’t have been able to find your lovely blog. I can’t wait to read through it better this evening when the children have gone to bed.
Thank you once again. :0)
I’m trying to be the kind of friend to my best friend that this friend you spoke of has been to you. She tells me often that she loves and appreciates me. We have been best friends for 26 years as well. She got saved in 2000 and God let me lead her to the Lord. She is now out of church and God lets me speak to her about getting back in church and getting right with the Lord…I often worry about doing so but she tells me she needs to hear it and she wants me to “preach” to her. She knows what she needs to do but has no one there to encourage her and help her get back in church. Her family doesn’t like to go and are not saved. I pray daily that God will continue to let me be what she needs me to be and that she will always have listening ears to what God wants to say to her through the words He gives me to say to her. It is a burden on my heart that I’ve carried for a couple of years now.
If you’ve never had a friend that has loved you unconditionally, you have missed out on a precious thing in life. Unconditional love is described as someone loving you no matter what you’ve done to them.
Kate, I appreciated this devotional today. It fit so well with what the Lord is doing in my heart. Though wronged by a friend recently, I love him with the love of Christ and am more concerned with how he is hurting himself than how he has hurt me.
With several situations I have faced since I have come to the Mission (as staff), I realize that I am not the person I used to be – yes, there are some testings and provings here! – but I can also see by my different reactions (and peace of mind and heart in them) that the Lord has been working on me in ways I wasn’t aware of until now.
In regards to the friend who ransacked my house, as I have been praying for him, this passage has been coming to mind:
Matthew 5:44-45 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
If that is what I am to do for my enemies, how much more for my friends!! Also, I have done so much more against God, that what was done against me cannot even compare. I have already forgiven my friend – I hope he repents so our friendship can be restored (from his end). You know the Lord is working within your own heart when you are more concerned with the person and their wrong course of conduct than what they did to you and how they have hurt you. Praying for my friend…