Sept. 7# 1947 VO TO HAVE A FRIEND, BE ONE J ohn 15:9-15
of each one. So our Lord would have us who are believers to be His friends, entering into His thoughts, and the desires of His heart. This is a pattern of what our earthly friend ships should be. We should reveal our desires, thoughts, and plans one to another, so that we may work happily together to accomplish de sired results. Friends will not betray each other’s confidence; they will not reveal secrets. They will assist each other to reach the desired goal. W e M ust S how O urselves F riendly P rov . 18:24 Job had three friends who did not enter into his sorrows, or bring him any solace for his grief. They did not know wliat was going on in God’s plan for Job. They were igno rant of the fact that Satan was active in this man’s calamities. Evidently they made no effort to discover the cause of Jobs losses, or the effect of them upon his heart. They rea soned without knowledge, and cer tainly without affection. They did not show themselves friendly to their friend, but became his enemy in stead. It is most interesting to note that he and God both considered them his friends at the end of the terrible ordeal of Job’s misfortunes. Read Job 2:11, and 42:10. Job had the heart of a true friend. He prayed for his friends, and God richly blessed both them and him. W e M ust B e T rue F riends J ohn 15:13 The Saviour continued to love Peter even after the latter’s denial of Him. Even at the very end of His earthly life, the Lord Jesus’ words to Judas are: “Friend, wherefore art thou come?” In some cases where friendship is tested, the results are very satisfac tory. In other cases, the friendship is broken. We should always show our selves superior to petty arguing, small grievances, and trivial fault finding. Let us love in spite of un loveliness. Let our kindness be like a spring that constantly flows with fresh cold water even though it runs into a muddy pool. Let nothing hin der, or defile, our pure friendship for another. It is still “more blessed to give than to receive.” Page Thirty-one
Dr. Walter L. Wilson in the President’s circle of advisers. This person learns the desires of the
A FRIEND is one who really cares for you, and not just for your actions, or for the profit he may gain from you. A friend loves at all times. Some of those times will be stormy, some will be in the shadows, and some will be in the sunshine. True friendship is revealed by the con stant care exercised, and the help fulness given under all conditions. Some people are friends temporarily, that is, until certain advantages are gained; others are friends just for the blessing of the love between two hearts. Our Lord Jesus is called a Friend, indeed. In fact, He is called the Friend of sinners. This is em phasized in order to impress upon us the fact ■ that friendship should not be adversely affected by adverse conditions, or unhappy situations. Let us be true and loyal to our friends. W e A re N ot C hrist ’ s S ervants J ohn 15:15 The word used here for servant refers to the housemaid, or the one who works in the kitchen. This one does not enter into the secrets of the master’s mind, or into the plans which the mistress may be formu lating. The servant is not told the purposes ’Of the home, but only the duties. This is not true friendship. This is only an association in which duties are properly performed, and for which suitable remuneration is made. This should not be the situa tion between friends. Friendship is not a case of servitude, but one of gratitude in joyous fellowship. We often serve one another until certain ends are obtained, and then cease. Sometimes one pretends to be a friend to someone for the sake of appearances, though his heart Is not sincerely friendly. This condi tion existing between two people cannot be considered as true friend ship. W e A re C hrist ’ s F riends J ohn 15:15 The word used here for friends means friends of a very intimate character, such as a cabinet member AUGUST, 1947
ITS AN IDEA Rev. Carlton C. Buck
Idea 1. Early in September plan to have a Saturday aft ernoon and evening retreat with your young people, their sponsors and your pas tor. Outline at this meeting your Fall and Winter work, choosing definite goals of advancement. Idea 2. Have the Septem ber 7 meeting built around the general theme of "Friend ship,” using John 15:9-17 as the scriptural basis. The ex ample of Jonathan and David could be used as an illustration of true friend ship. (1 Samuel 18:1-4). “ Friendsh ip W ith Jesus” would be appropriate to use in the song service. Idea 3. Why not ask your minister’s wife to help you develop the topic of Septem ber 21 on "Building a Mar riage That Will Last” ? Per haps she would be willing to open the discussion with a brief talk on- the subject. Idea 4. You should plan a definite campaign to let the young people of your high school or junior college know what the local church has to offer in youth activities. This should be done in Septem ber. You will win many young people to your group by letting them know what you have to offer them and that they are welcome in your group. Then win them to Christ.
President, and knows his plans. He knows the real reason for the Pres ident’s decisions. He enters into the consideration of the problems, and the end to be attained in the solving
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