Friends

I greet you in Jesus' precious name. It is Tuesday morning, the 18th of July, 2023, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the book of Proverbs 27:17:

"As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." 

Then we go to Acts 18:3:  

"So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers."

Now Paul, the apostle, was a tentmaker. He stayed with Aquila because he was a tentmaker. They had something in common. That's why they were friends and obviously the most important thing was that they both loved Jesus Christ. Just like iron sharpens iron, we need each other today like never before. Even as Jesus was comforted so often by His disciples, we also need to comfort each other in times of suffering and rejoicing. You and I are not created to be lone rangers. We are not one-man shows. We need each other. God designed us to be a team, to love and to look after each.

Proverbs 18:24 says,

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly…" 

If you want friends, then you need to be friendly towards others. Find out what the interests of a man are and then engage with him in that particular interest. You will win him over to Christ much quicker than any Bible punching. Paul was a tentmaker, so he stayed with Aquila because he was a fellow tentmaker by trade. Get involved with something that your friend likes doing and you'll get him closer to Jesus than anything else. Ladies, I really mean this from my heart, I know how much you love that husband of yours, and you so want him to become a Christian. I know that. Instead, get involved in what he likes doing. If he's a fisherman, go fishing with him. You say you don't like fishing, well, neither do I, but if it's going to bring him to Christ, then do that. Get interested in the things he is interested in, just like Paul and Aquila, and you will get him to Christ much quicker than leaving Christian magazines on the coffee table. He is not a fool. He knows exactly what you are trying to do, and it just annoys him, rather love him.

My wife, Jill, has a little quotation on the wall in the kitchen and it goes like this: "A friend is that rare person who asks how you are, how you are feeling and listens to your answer."  

Let's love one another today because Jesus said that we should.

Have a wonderful day,
God bless you and goodbye.