Friends in Faith

Opening the heavy church door, I immediately saw Dan and ran to hug him. “Mark’s here,” he whispered. Mark and I hugged. “Barb’s here,” he said. Barb and I hugged. She said, “Ruth’s here.” I hugged Ruth and took my place in a nearby pew. Soon, I noticed Jean several pews away. Once the benediction was pronounced, I found Dan, Mark, Barb, and Ruth and told them, “Jean’s here. All we need is Tracy and Jay.” The eight of us—four girls and four boys—were in the same grade growing up in church. Together, we attended Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and Youth Fellowship. The four of us girls sang in the church choir, three sopranos and an alto. Tracy and I worked on a presidential campaign when we were too young to vote. Barb hosted backyard pool parties. Ruth’s teenage uncles worked at the local amusement park. They let us on the kiddie rides when we were too big. Dan, the clown of the group, kept us all laughing. And true friend, Jean, sat with me in the funeral home after my father died when we were sixteen. After high school graduation, the eight of us pretty much lost contact with each other. Most moved away. None still attend the same church where we grew up. Yet, completely unplanned, years later, six of us showed up there on Easter. And since our friendships and our memories are centered in Christ, we were able to pick up where we left off. • Kathy Irey • Reread today’s Bible passages. What are some godly friendships in the Bible? What does the Bible say about friendship? • Read Galatians 6:1-10. As Christians, we are meant to live in community with other believers in Jesus. Do you have a church family? Do you have Christian friends who will support you in your faith? A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)

Read Verses:

1 Samuel 18:1-3; John 11:32-44; 15:13-17