Monday 11-18-02

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. - Proverbs 27:9

A friend who speaks truth and wisdom in an earnest and sincere fashion is like a spring that provides refreshment for the soul. A friend follows with their head as well as their heart, allowing what is in their heart to rise up to the top where it can be communicated in love. Friends are vulnerable, open and honest in their communication, tempering those virtues with wisdom. Friends seek the ultimate good of one another and they speak with humility, not with a need to impress, or to display their gifts of wisdom. Their timing is sensitive and their approach is gentle. All these things bring joy to the heart. Pray today that God would give you wisdom, vulnerability, openness and honesty in your friendships.

Tuesday 11-19-02

Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, Nor go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. - Proverbs 27:10

Matthew Henry calls this scripture a charge to be faithful and constant to our friends and even to our father's friends. It is a wonderful gift to have a friend with whom we can unbossom ourselves and be free, someone who knows our concerns, and who cares about our soul. Henry suggests it is a good idea to foster friendships with neighbors, people who live close by, that way acquaintances can be more easily maintained and kindness can be more easily exchanged. This proverb speaks to us about the importance of networking and building relationships beyond our immediate family members. One good reason is because there are times that we are in need of help and family is either not living nearby and/or is not available to help, but friends and neighbors are. Pray today that God would help you to connect with neighbors and future friends. Pray that you would be available to help in their time of need and willing to ask for help when you are in need.

Wednesday 11-20-02

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
- Ephesians 5:19

John Piper says, "The realities of God and Christ, creation and salvation, heaven and hell are so great that when they are known truly and felt duly, they demand more than discussion and analysis and description; they demand poetry and song and music. Singing is the Christian's way of saying: "God is so great that thinking will not suffice"... He also tells us in his sermon "Singing and Making Melody to the Lord" that "Being together and singing to each other, and not just alone, intensifies our emotions for God, communicates our witness to God, and unifies our corporate life around God." It also ministers to those around us who may be carrying a hidden burden. Pray that the Lord Himself would fill you up today with the Spirit of worship and that you would build up those around you by joining in fully with your congregation in corporate and small group worship.

For further study: Acts 2:46-47, Ephesians 5:18

Thursday 11-21-02

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21

Matthew Henry writes in his commentary that out of a fear of God "There is a mutual submission that Christians owe one to another...not advancing themselves above others, nor domineering over one another and giving laws to one another. Where there is this mutual condescension and submission, the duties of all relations will be the better performed." God's work in and through us gets done when we have a yielding spirit. And how can we know we have a yielding spirit except that we are willing to yield our ways, our opinions and our desires for the greater good of the church. Pray today that God would give you a yielding and submissive heart that reveres Christ and loves the church.

For further study: James 4:1, Proverbs 6:19b

Friday 11-22-02

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

When we read "carry each other's burdens" we generally think of sickness, unemployment, loss of a loved one, etc. But John Piper points out in his sermon "The Law of Christ" that Paul begins this passage by talking about someone who is caught in sin. Bearing one another's burdens then would pertain to anything, whether tragedy or sin, that is threatening to crush our faith. Paul goes on to say that we should cautiously and gently restore the person. It is our Christian duty to help others recognize their sin and what they must do to repair it. All too often it is easier to look the other way, but God's word makes it clear that other people's sin is our business. Pray today that God would teach you what it means to fulfill the law of Christ through helping to bear the burdens of others.

For further study: Matthew 23:4, Galatians 6:1-5

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