A real friend hangs in there when times are tough. I’ve learned that deep trials often reveal the depth of the friendships surrounding you. On the one hand, you’ll find some standing right there with you through it all. We praise God for friends like this!
Unfortunately, on the other hand, you’ll watch people completely abandon you, walk away, and some may even use your difficulty to better themselves and make life harder for you.
Not everyone is a true friend, but you can choose to be one today.
We, as the Body of Christ, need to stand up with each other, stand strong for each other, and help bear one another’s burdens.
Brother, sister, be a true friend.
Proverbs 18:24 (NKJV) “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
On their way to a typical day of prayer at the Temple, Peter and John have their lives wonderfully interrupted by God. Unlike any other time headed to prayer, this time they pause at the beggar there by the gate, and God uses Peter to bring wholeness and healing into his life! They didn’t have the money he was requesting, but they did have the Lord! Immediately, he was healed.
Of course, this infuriated the religious elite. Not only was this familiar beggar healed, but many thousands heard the word of the gospel and were saved. The popularity of God once again threatens the religious rulers.
Peter and John are arrested and subjected to vigorous interrogation. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, preaches the truth to them, reminding them of the crucifixion, resurrection, and powerful name of Jesus. Rather than respond with softened hearts, they threaten Peter and John a couple of times and release them.
Now, imagine the scene for a moment. Peter, John, and the man that was healed stood in the midst of a semi-circle of the Sanhedrin, the religious ‘supreme court’ of the day. It’s a very intimidating situation where your life, physically and literally, is on the line. After what was done to Jesus, who knows how they will respond to this?
If we read through Acts 4 too quickly, we may miss “the man” who was healed standing with Peter and John in their hour of trouble. He didn’t have to. He wasn’t commanded to. He had done nothing wrong. But there he is, standing with his new friends.
I admire this man. I love him.
He is a beautiful example of a true friend. He is very precious to me. Peter and John are in deep trouble, and their lives hang in the balance. Where is this man who was healed? Did he run away? No. Did he go back to his family? No. He’s right there with them. That’s a real friend. He could have avoided it all and gone on with his new life, but instead chose to stand close and stand firm with Peter and John.
Remember that a true friend sticks by you when times are tough.
I’ve learned that deep trials often reveal the depth of the friendships surrounding you.
A real friend hangs in there when times are tough. I’ve learned that deep trials often reveal the depth of the friendships surrounding you. On the one hand, you’ll find some standing right there with you through it all. We praise God for friends like this!
Unfortunately, on the other hand, you’ll watch people completely abandon you, walk away, and some may even use your difficulty to better themselves and make life harder for you.
Not everyone is a true friend, but you can choose to be one today.
Be a true friend.
The Gift of Goodbye: Finding Purpose in Lost Friendships
10 Bible Verses About Friendship
4 Vital Things to Remember When Betrayed By A Friend
